Jacqueline Sponseller

MAINEVILLE, Ohio - Jacqueline "Jackie" Keyes Sponseller, 73, of Maineville, Ohio, died on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025.

Born May 6, 1952, in Coldwater, Michigan, to Robert and Dolores (Nowicki) Keyes, she graduated from Prairie Heights High School, LaGrange, Indiana, in 1970. She earned a Bachelor's of Education with a focus in Special Education in 1974, from the University of St. Francis, Fort Wayne, Indiana, and a Master's Degree in Special Education from Eastern Michigan University in 1987.

A beauty queen inside and out, she held titles including Steuben County 4-H Queen, Junior Miss Indiana runner-up, and Homecoming Queen at the University of St. Francis. Jackie had lifelong passions of supporting marginalized people, including those with disabilities and experiencing hardships.

Jackie married Craig Sponseller on Dec. 22, 1973. They moved to Patten, Maine, in 1974, where she became the first Special Education Teacher in the Katahdin Valley at Sherman Mills Elementary. She helped build their home, a log cabin, and create their garden, which provided food through canning and freezing. She prepared homemade bread every Saturday. She enjoyed the local outdoor activities like fishing, snowmobiling, sledding, hiking Mt. Chase for blueberry picking, and climbing Mt. Katahdin (Appalachian Trail Terminus). She had her first two children in 1977 and 1978, in Maine.

In 1980, she and Craig moved to Munith, Michigan. While there, she taught special education at Stockbridge Elementary School, Stockbridge, Michigan. She continued gardening and harvesting their produce and was committed to her special education students. She had her third child in 1983. She was dedicated to the well-rounded education of her three children, through various sports, activities, social clubs, Catholic CCD, Sunday school, museums, art, music and travel. She cherished time with extended family.

In 1992, they moved to Jackson, Michigan, to be near Jackson Catholic Schools, where their children attended. She received a new calling and retired from teaching Special Education at Stockbridge Schools in 2004, and began teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) to refugees and immigrants in the Jackson community. She enjoyed sharing English literacy and American culture with newcomers to the U.S., hosting several "first Thanksgiving dinners" for her students. In 2005, she volunteered with the American Red Cross and went to Texas, to support the victims of Hurricane Katrina during the humanitarian crisis. She retired from teaching ESL in 2010.

In 2014, she moved to Maineville, Ohio, to enjoy her retirement with Craig and be close to her children and grandchildren in the Cincinnati area. With her faith and God's will, her first battle with breast cancer was overcome that year. In Ohio, she made many impactful memories with her family and friends, enjoying volunteering, water aerobics, book club, hosting meals, attending grandkids' sports games, band, choir and plays. Her ovarian cancer was diagnosed in 2022, and her breast cancer returned. She battled hard with the Lord by her side, and she is now reunited with Him.

Jackie was the beloved wife of 52 years to Craig Sponseller; devoted mother of Tarah (Matt) Cook, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Jena (Mark) Wells, of West Chester, Ohio, and Luke Sponseller, of Greenville, South Carolina; cherished grandmother of Steven Wells, Jordan Wells, Ashton Wells, Kieran Wells and Anna Sponseller; caring sister of Bobbie (Roy) Charleswood, Kris (Susan) Keyes, Toni (Mark) Musgrave and Cindy (Keith) Turner; and loving daughter of the late Robert and Dolores Keyes.

Visitation will be held at Tufts Schildmeyer Funeral Home, 129 Riverside Ave., Loveland, OH 45150, on Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, from 5-7 p.m.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Margaret of York Church, 9499 Columbia Road, Loveland, OH 45140, on Friday, Sept. 5, 2025, at 10 a.m.

A brunch will follow at deSha's Restaurant at 11:30 a.m.

A Celebration of Life reception will be held at Trine University Z Club, 1215 Thunder Ave., Angola, IN 46703, on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., followed by burial at 2 p.m., at Jamestown Cemetery, Fremont, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jackie's honor may be directed to the Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati, DSAGC, Attn: Julie Sheffer, 4623 Wesley Ave., Suite A, Cincinnati, OH 45212.

Condolences may be sent online to HYPERLINK "http://www.beamsfuneralhome.com" www.beamsfuneralhome.com.

Arrangements are under the direction of Beams Funeral Home of Fremont, Indiana.