Jack Sparks
Jack E. Sparks, 90, resident of Cedar Grove, NC, passed away on Friday, October 3, 2025. He was born on August 4, 1935, in Elyria, OH and raised in Sandusky, OH. His parents are Alexander Banks (born in Dundee, Scotland) and Esther (nee Konsesky, born in Berea, OH) Sparks.
As a young man in the early 1950’s, Jack worked for Cedar Point in Sandusky, caring for the horses and ponies.
On March 11, 1953, Jack enlisted into the U.S. Navy in Detroit, MI. He trained in Waukegan, IL, then assigned to the Travis Air Force Base on July 15, 1956. When Jack entered the U. S. Navy, it was at the tail end of the Korean War. During his enlistment he was assigned to the USS Charles H. Roan, DD-853, rank MM3 (machinist mate III). He worked on the throttles of the ship. He was privileged to tour the world and visited 36 countries, cross through the Panama Canal, International Date Line, the 38th Parallel, cross over the equator and through the Suez Canal. During this tour, Jack spent time in Sasebo and Yokosuka Japan.
After completing his time in the Navy, Jack returned home and married Barbara Ann Rosenthal on August 1, 1959, at the First United Methodist Church of Elyria, OH, and enjoyed their honeymoon in Quebec, Canada. Jack and Barbara bought their first home on Robson Road in Grafton, which still remains in the family to this day. Together, they raised three daughters.
Barbara passed away after a two-year illness on November 4, 1972.
On August 4, 1973, Jack married Nancy Lea Miller at the First United Methodist Church in Elyria, and honeymooned at Put-n-Bay, OH. Jack gained another daughter when he married Nancy.
Jack’s first business, Elyria Woodcraft, where he restored antique furniture and upholstery work. During this time, he was proud to work with the Schwind and Sons family, constructing picture frames in their framing business.
He used his skill and talent for restoration. Jack restored antiques, did upholstery work, and custom-built furniture for over 65 years. Then he renamed his business The Furniture Shop and moved to 4th Street in Elyria.
Jack owned and operated Black River Equipment, a wholesale business for small pet supplies for several years. Afterwards, he returned to the upholstery business and started The Brass Tack in Grafton with partner Keth Loczi.
After several years, Jack left the upholstery business and started his last adventure and created Jack Stands, where he custom built and sold aquarium stands for businesses in Ohio and North Carolina which include nursing homes, doctor offices, the Cleveland International Exposition Center and on display at the University and Cleveland Clinic hospitals.
At 85 years, triumphally and lovingly Jack built three custom dining room tables for dear friends. Then he decided to retire.
Jack loved everything to do with the outdoors, especially fishing with his daughters. One of his greatest joys was finding a fishing hole early in the morning before anyone else. He fished for walleye, perch, small mouth bass and salmon in the Great Lakes, and enjoyed ice fishing. He earned the Fish Ohio Award several times for walleye as well at the LEWT, Lake Erie Walleye Trail Tournament in April 2005 with his son-in-law, Craig.
He was an avid hunter. Hunting rabbit, muskrat, duck, geese, wild turkey, pheasant, deer, and wild boar, as well as traveling to Idaho and Colorado for elk hunting with his two sons -in-law and friends…and was lucky and brought one home. He enjoyed skeet shooting, golfing, and bowling on the Grafton Leagues, North Ridgeville Lanes couples league, and with the Elyria Elks.
Jack showed Palomino rabbits, in the open division, travelling from PA, NY and OH and had great grand champions. He learned how to show rabbits and build cabinetry while living with his Uncle Charles Schue as a young boy.
Jack was a member of the local Elyria Elks- Lodge 465 and the Grafton VFW Post 3341.
Jack loved to travel and visited 30 US States. He visited Alaska and Vancouver, B.C. Canada in 2017. He traveled with wife Nancy, daughter Susan and son-in-law, Craig, to Scotland in 2004 and returned in 2014. He was able to visit the original family home in Dundee, Scotland. This was a highlight as he was extremely proud of his Scottish Heritage. His last name, Sparks, traces back to the early 1700’s. The Sparks are “followers of Robert the Bruce”, which is Clan Robertson.
Surviving members of Jack’s family include his loving daughters Beth (Elizabeth) A. (Jim) Myers (nee Sparks), Jacqueline A. (Dwayne) Smith (nee Sparks), Amy Suzanne Benko (nee Kovacs), and Susan Ann (Craig) Klinect (nee Sparks); grandchildren Joshua W. Randolph of Elyria, OH, Jeremy W. Klinect of Greenwood, SC, Nicholas A. (Kristin) Smith of Olmsted Falls, OH, Justin A. (Samantha) Smith of Wellington, OH, Lindsey A.(Devan) Kernya of Elyria, OH, Dane J. (Madelyn) Minadeo of Strongsville, OH, Camryn E. Minadeo of Independence, OH, Stacy L. (Tom) Noyes of Lyndhurst, OH, Tiffany M. Myers of Painesville Township, OH.; great grandchildren Creo Smith, Hunter; great grandchildren Cooper and Meadow Smith, Sophia, Jack, Tate and Georgia Kernya; and sister Joyce M. Mihuta of Cornelius, NC.
Preceded in death by wives, Barbara (passed November 4, 1972) and Nancy (passed May 18, 2012), parents Alexander B. Sparks and Esther Hullinger and sister Kathleen Rose Cross (passed August 19, 2020).
Because of Jack’s love for the outdoors, he was a founding member of the local Izaak Walton League of Penfield Township, OH. Family is requesting in lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial donation to the Izaak Walton League, Lorain County Ely, 21334 Foster Rd., Penfield Township, OH 44090.
Private burial for immediate family on Wednesday, October 8, 2025.
Celebration of Life will be at the VFW Post 3341, 783 Huron St., Grafton at 4pm.
Pastor Joe Carney of the Amherst United Methodist Church to officiate.
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