Wadsworth's TV dog lady dies

Jan Sponsler, host of "Animal Crackers" on Wadsworth's cable system for 381 episodes, passed away Monday. Jan was famous in the Wadsworth community for her love of dogs, as attested by many who signed her funeral home guest book. Her obituary:


Jannis Pauline Sponsler, 81, of Wadsworth, passed away Monday, January 31, 2011.

She was born July 23, 1929 in Everett, Pa. to the late Blair and Mildred Clark. She was a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, a member of Wadsworth Eagles #2117 and the Medina County SPCA. Jannis was the host of Animal Crackers on WCTV having hosted 381 episodes and received numerous Clapper Awards.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Helen Karns and one brother, Joe Clark. Mrs. Sponsler is survived by her husband, Dick, with whom she would have celebrated 60 years of marriage in April 2011. There are three sons and daughters-in-law, Jeff and Diane Sponsler, Scot Sponsler, and Rich and Donna Sponsler, all of Wadsworth; her grandchildren, Katie (Gregg) Conley, Kevin, Jennifer (Dan) Knechtel, Amanda, Jessica and Steven; her great-grandchildren, Grace and Cal Conley, Mason and Riley Knechtel; and her sisters and brothers, Betty Cornell and Lillian Bennett, both of Clearville, Pa., Elsie (John) Mellot of State College, Pa., John Clark of Everett, Pa., and Jim (Joyce) Clark of New Jersey.

The family will receive friends 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Hilliard-Rospert Funeral Home, 174 N. Lyman St., Wadsworth. Funeral service will be conducted 11 a.m. Friday at Trinity United Church of Christ, 215 High St., Wadsworth, with Rev. Daniel Doty officiating. Interment will be at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Medina, 797 N. Court St., Medina, OH 44256 or Medina County SPCA, 245 S. Medina St., Medina, OH 44256. Hilliard-Rospert

(330-334-1501)

www.HilliardRospert.com


Published in Akron Beacon Journal from February 2 to February 3, 2011