Janet Lucille Wulff

Janet Lucille Spreng was the 8th child born to Jacob and Edna Spreng on March 14, 1933. She joined 4 brothers and 3 sisters at their farmhouse in Loudonville, Ohio on Township Rd 2402. Janet's father died when she was 6 years old, and her mother Edna raised Janet and her brothers and sisters (by then, 2 more babies had been born, for a total 5 boys and 5 girls) while she operated 2 80-acre farms during the ending years of the Great Depression!
Janet graduated from Loudonville high school in 1951, and got a job in Ashland, Ohio, working as a bookkeeper for a lumberyard. She was spotted by a young navy veteran named Gale Bernard Wulff in November 1951 while they were both eating lunch at Isaly's Ice Cream Shop. Gale sent a friend over to pave the way for an introduction and the rest is history!!
Janet and Gale were married on Sunday, August 10, 1952 in Cadiz, Ohio, and having no money for a honeymoon, Gale reported to his job at Automatic Electric the next day! The pair moved frequently, because Gale's job as an installer took him throughout the country to different cities for a few months, or even only weeks, at one time. When Janet and Gale moved from Loraine, Ohio, to Lexington Kentucky, they had their first child, Karen Lynn, on the way. Karen was born in Lexington on March 1, 1958. 6 weeks later, the trio moved to Cambridge, Ohio for a year. Finally, the three settled in Marion, Ohio, headquarters of General Telephone Company which had bought Automatic Electric. On October 20, 1960, Sandra Ellen was born in Marion General Hospital, and their family was complete.
It cannot be proven, but it has often been suspected that Janet was the model for the character of June Cleaver, of "Leave it to Beaver" fame. She was a stay-at-home mom who was always ready with kisses and band aids for boo boos, kisses and advice for every problem, and kisses and homemade cookies to take care of everything else. She was a Girl Scout Leader, room mother, PTA member, Bible School teacher and catechism mother. She and Gale would chaperone marching band trips when Karen and Sandy were in the marching band.
Knowing how to read was of paramount importance to Janet. She constantly read stories to her daughters, and then to her granddaughter, Amanda Rochelle, born March 28, 1988, and finally to her great-grandson, Declan Brody, born June 15, 2022. Faith in Jesus Christ was important to Janet. She took her daughters to Sunday school and church at an early age. She was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran church in Marion Ohio where she was a member of the choir, the council, and was the treasurer for 25 years.
Janet passed on her love of music to her daughters and granddaughter. Besides singing in the church choir, Janet was an accomplished cellist, taking instruction for 20+ years, and would play with the Mansfield Symphony for Messiah and other special performances.
When her daughters were in high school, Janet went to work at the local McDonald's when they were looking for part time help at lunchtime. Her standards for cleanliness were so strict that she had a mop sink named in her honor! That is a distinction that stands out to this day. Even June Cleaver cannot say that!
After McDonald's, Janet went on to work as a receptionist for Howison and Howard Interiors, a furniture upholsterer, then as a receptionist for Dr. Marion Dunbar DDS, and finally for Dr. Janina Kopylowicz. DDS.
Gale passed away on April 19, 2002, and Janet entered a new phase of her life. She became active at the Marion YMCA, teaching Tai Chi classes for the Arthritis Foundation and taking water aerobics classes 3 days a week. She also volunteered at the Red Cross, making sandwiches for blood donors and then manning the registration tables when the donors came in.
Janet and her cat Tai Chi moved into Stone Oak Retirement Community on April 6, 2022. She loved all of the activities, having all of her meals prepared, and being with all of her new friends. She was especially fond of chair volleyball, Wii bowling, bingo, and all of the activities planned with Primrose students. Her daughter Sandra visited most Saturdays to do her hair, take her shopping, and most importantly, take her to visit her great grandson, Declan, who called her G.G.
Janet passed into Jesus' arms on August 7, 2024, at Kobacker Hospice, 2 weeks after she had fallen in her apartment. She left behind so many people that have been touched by her love, energy and optimism. She will be intensely missed by her daughter Karen and her husband Derek of Venice, Florida, daughter Sandra and her husband Jeff, of Marion, Ohio, and granddaughter Amanda, her husband Kyle, and their 2-year-old son Declan of Hilliard, Ohio. She will also be missed by many nieces, nephews, and their children whom she enjoyed interacting with at the annual Jacob Spreng reunion in Loudonville. Many of you at Stone Oak have also let our family know that you will miss Janet. We really appreciate all of the support we have gotten.
A Celebration of Janet's life will be Saturday, August 17, 2024 at 1:30PM the Stone Oak Retirement Community, 4160 Trueman Blvd, Hilliard, OH 43026.
Donations in Janet's memory can be made to Kobacker Hospice in Hilliard or the Marion County Humane Society where she adopted her cat, Tai Chi. Tai has found another loving home in Marysville and Janet was able to get several updates on his progress before she passed.
The Snyder Funeral Homes are honored to serve the family; condolences may be expressed to the family by visiting www.SnyderFuneralHomes.com