Robert Joseph Sprenger was the first born child of Herman and Lucille Foley Sprenger. He went to Catholic primary and Shaw High School in Cleveland Ohio. Robert had scholarships to go to college, but because of the death of his father he became the head of the family for his mother and younger siblings. He loved baseball and played in the local leagues around East Cleveland. Robert married Zora Belle Kirkland in 1953 and raised Zora's daughter from a prior marriage, Martha Kathryn. He was employed for the Austin Company of Cleveland as their head accountant. April 15, 1959 he was working on his brothers income tax returns. Shortly after completing, Zora Belle informed him that she had been in labor and within a few minutes he had delivered his first child at home, a son, Otto Sprenger. Two years later in 1961 they had a daughter, Denise. Robert was the typical chain smoking accountant of the era, he died shortly after having surgery for lung cancer. His fellow associates at the Austin Company donated blood to the help replace all that was used after his surgery. Interment was on April 2nd at Calvary cemetery in his Foley grandparents family plot, alongside his parents and brother William, his mother's siblings are also in section 4, lot 660. Near the Foley plot is his Sprenger grandparents plot in section 47. His uncle Alfred and a infant child (parents unknown) are also in the Sprenger plot.

The Cleveland Plain Dealer, April 1, 1962
Robert J. Sprenger, beloved husband of Zora Belle, father of Denise, Otto and Kathryn; beloved brother of William and Richard (deceased), John and Jeanne; late residence, 13701 Fifth Ave. East Cleveland. The family will receive friends Sunday 2-5 And 7-10 P. M. at the New Mahon-Murphy Funeral Home, 13201 Euclid Ave. Funeral mass Monday, 9 a. m., at St. Philomena's Church. Interment Calvary Cemetery.