Gerald Loveland July 10, 1940 - January 5, 2024

Gerald Eugene Loveland, lovingly known as Pops or Papa by all who knew him, went home to be with his Lord and Savior Friday, January 5, 2024.  He lived life to the fullest.  He loved to archery hunt and fish, traveling up north, around the country and around the world (Africa, Canada) to hunt many various species of animals and fish.  Gerald was born in Bruner, Missouri, July 10, 1940, to Clifford Loveland and Kate (Hull) Loveland, Moore. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Navy. On November 7, 1959, at the age of 19, he was united in marriage to the love of his life Norma Beck of Cassville, Missouri.   God blessed this union with four children and created a very devoted family man in Gerald.

Family meant everything to Gerald and as a Deacon, he raised his family in church. He loaded his old wooden side-paneled station wagon full of all the extra family and friends and took them to church. Gerald loved playing with his kids. While raising his children he spent his spare time with them, whether it was board games, cards, sledding, skiing, fishing, sports, hunting animals or mushrooms. He always dreamed of having his own baseball team.  He did get his wish in a Co-ed softball team with all four of his kids, their spouses, grandkids and other friends and family.

Hard work was not foreign to Gerald; he partnered in a Tire Shop in Marshfield, then moved on to own his own Masonry Business.  Loveland Masonry was a family business in which all of his four children worked with him at various times, as well as grandsons. His oldest son still runs the business today.  Gerald loved bowhunting with a passion, owning his own Bowhunter’s Pro Shop for several years.  At age 83, he was still hunting up to two weeks prior to his passing, with a successful season bagging a wild hog and three deer.

Gerald loved to follow sports teams, from MSU, St. Louis Cardinals to all things Sparta Trojans. He was their biggest fan, especially the Lady Trojans Basketball team.  Watching all his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren play whatever sport they were involved in at the time. Gerald adopted many many other ball players as his own and was at every game possible to watch them all play. Again, he became known as Pops or Papa to all who knew him. When not at ball games he would seek out his family to play cards and spend time with them rehashing ball games or hunting events.

His passing from this earth will leave a large void in his family’s hearts as well as all who knew him.  But we know there is great rejoicing in heaven and we will meet him there some day.

Gerald is survived by four children; Clay Loveland and wife Jonna, Tammy Case and husband Jim, all of Sparta, Missouri, Brian Loveland and wife Sherri of Nixa, Missouri, Joy Finney and husband Tony, also from Sparta, 9 Grandchildren; Jennifer Anderson, husband Curtis, Joshua Loveland, and wife Daphne, Jason Loveland and wife Tara, Jacob Finney and wife Dandy, Whitney Sparkman and husband Landon, Dusty Loveland, and fiancé Marissa, Kendra Case-Applegate, husband BJ Applegate, Kayla Dishman and husband Zack Dishman, Garrett Case; 24 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.  Gerald was preceded in death by his wife, Norma on December 17, 2006, his grandson Clint Loveland January 26, 2023, his parents, e and his brother Billy Joe Loveland.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Sparta Schools Athletic Programs or The Loveland Scholarship fund at Sparta High School.

Funeral services for Gerald will be 1:00 P.M. Thursday, January 11, 2024 in Barnes Family Funeral Home, Ozark, Missouri. Burial will follow in Old Boston Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. Wednesday, January 10, 2024 in the funeral home. Online condolences may be shared at

www.barnesfamilyfunerals.com.