Janeal F. Sparks

Janeal Forsberg Sparks passed away June 22, 2025 at her home.

Janeal was born June 14, 1938, the 3rd child of George Henning Forsberg, and Irene Udy Forsberg, in Tremonton, Utah. She grew up in Riverside, Utah surrounded by a close knit community of family and friends. She graduated from Bear River High School in 1956 where she participated as a cheerleader, and on the swim team.

In March, 1956 Janeal married Leland Robert Stone. From that union came 3 children, a son Steven Lee, a daughter Jeraldine, and another daughter Sheryl. They later divorced.

Being a single mother of 3 young children and also the breadwinner for her family was overwhelming for Janeal, but with support from family, long hours, and hard work, she managed to keep a tidy home, and provided for her family.

In 1965 Janeal married J Wendell Sparks. At that point, her children assumed his last name, and called him Dad. Another son, Jay Wendell soon followed. The family moved for a short time to Logan, Utah, where Wendell ran a service station and drove truck, and Janeal became a full time homemaker and mother.

In 1966 the family moved to a house in Pocatello, Idaho that became the family home for over 50 years. When not cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, and chasing her kids, Janeal loved to rearrange the furniture, and repaint the inside of the house. She was also a skilled seamstress.

As her children grew, Janeal managed to at last find some well-deserved time for herself. She became active in Beta Sigma Phi sorority and held several leadership positions. She also became an avid quilter, spending countless hours sitting at her quilting frames, sometimes with friends who lived in the neighborhood, but mostly by herself, creating beautiful quilts that she gave as gifts to friends and family to commemorate special occasions.

Janeal was a devoted grandmother. She had the ability to make each one feel like they were her favorite. She and Wendell were regulars at the grandkid’s events.

Somewhere along the way, Janeal took up the game of golf, playing casually when she had time. Over the years it became a passion and she played multiple times per week. She got involved with the ladies golf association where she made many lifelong friends. Wendell was also an avid golfer and many summer weekends were spent traveling together to play in couples tournaments where they managed to win more than their share of prize money. As Wendell’s health started to diminish, she played less and less until she gave up the game to take care of Wendell. She had plans of starting to play again, but before that could happen her own health began to decline.

Janeal and Wendell had the devastating misfortune of the sudden loss of their youngest child Jay Wendell in 2014. Neither of them were ever the same after that. Janeal suffered another great loss when she lost her oldest grandson, Nicholas Johnson, to cancer.

After Wendell passed in 2017, Janeal no longer wanted to live in the family home and sold it in favor of a small townhouse in a retirement community. There she didn’t have yard work or exterior maintenance to deal with. As always, she kept her home spotless. She enjoyed her time there until she had a minor stroke and could no longer drive, and suffered several serious falls. In March, 2021, she made the decision to move to assisted living. She made, and lost, many friends there, including some of her old golf buddies. Her apartment had view of a farm next door, and loved to watch what she called her horses and knew the personalities of each one.

The week before her passing, Janeal was able to attend her great granddaughter Hailee’s wedding. It was a very happy occasion.

Janeal is survived by her children, Steven (Karen) of Pocatello, Jeri Hardy (David) of Roy, UT, Sheryl Davies (James) of Pocatello, daughter in law Rose Sparks of Grant, ID, Sister, Mary Gayle Marble (Reese) of Riverside, UT, 9 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by, her parents, husband J Wendell Sparks, son Jay Wendell Sparks, grandson Nicholas Johnson, sister and brother in law Doris & Gordon Smith, brother and sister in law Paul & Carol Forsberg.

The family wishes to acknowledge Janeal’s daughter Sheryl for her selfless, patient, and loving care. Also to Enhabit Home Health, her hospice nurse Remmy, and the staff at Grace Assisted living for their compassion, and constant attention during her final days.

A viewing will be held on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 10:00 to 11:30 am at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd. Chubbuck, ID 83202, with a graveside service following, starting at 12:00 pm at Mountain View Cemetery, 1520 S. 5th Ave. Pocatello, ID.

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