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Rian Charles Sporlein obituary 3/27/99


Rian Charles Sporlein passed away on Saturday, March 27,
1999 in Fontana, Calif. after sustaining fatal injuries from a traffic accident.
He was 39 years old.
Rian was the oldest child of Dorothy Novak of Howard Lake.
He was born on Aug. 2, 1959 to Dorothy and Walt Sporlein, Jr in Minneapolis.
His father was killed in a work related accident in June, 1961.
Rian, along with his brother Tony, was raised in northeast
Minneapolis his first seven years.
He was baptized and made his First Holy Communion at St.
Clement’s Catholic Church in northeast Minneapolis.
In 1967, his mother married Dennis Novak and later in 1972,
the family moved to rural Howard Lake where Rian was raised on a small hobby
farm with his Novak brother and sisters. Rian made his confirmation at St.
Mary’s Church in Waverly in 1975.
After his graduation from Howard Lake-Waverly High School
in 1977, Rian enlisted in the U.S. Army for six years. While he was stationed
in Germany, the Red Cross flew Rian to Stanford, Calif. to be with his mother
at the time of Dennis Novak’s death.
Dorothy will never forget the support and love Rian showered
on her during his dad’s remaining 72 hours and his uplifting sense of humor
he shared with his brothers and sisters during this tragic time in their
lives.
After Germany, he was transferred to Fort Rucker, Ala.
where he served as a chef for the remainder of his term. He was twice awarded
the Outstanding Cook of the Quarter during his hitch with the 46th Engineer
Facility.
He was united in marriage to Norma Aguirre of Fontana,
Calif. on March 21, 1981. God blessed this union with two sons and one daughter.
After leaving Alabama, they moved to California where Rian
worked as a trailer mechanic and raised his family.
He was employed by J L Johnson Company at the time of his
death.
Survivors include his wife Norma and three children; Rian
17, Melody 15, and Jacob 4, all of Rialto; his mother, Dorothy Novak of
Howard Lake; two brothers, Tony Sporlein and Tom Novak, both of Arvada,
Colo.; two sisters, Gail (Rick) Weispfennig of Hutchinson and Noel (Shane)
Painschab of Waverly; nieces, nephews, and over 200 aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his “two dads” and
his grandparents.
A memorial service was held at Knopsnyder Mortuary in Colton
on April 1 and graveside services took place at the Veterans National Cemetery
in Riverside, Calif. April 2, with Pastor Gary Hornsby officiating.
The family is asking that donations be sent to St. Mary’s
Catholic Church in Waverly, where a memorial is being set up.

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