- Date Of Birth: June 20, 1923
- Date Of Death: March 17, 2017
- State: Illinois
Robert E. “Jack” Jackson, 93, of Jacksonville, IL died Friday, March 17, 2017, at Heritage Health in Jacksonville. He was born June 20, 1923, in Roseville, IL, the son of Alfred Lincoln and Blanche Marie Schoonover Jackson. He married Martha Jean Icenogle on June 1, 1946, in the Little Brown Church in the Vale at Nashua, IA and she survives.
He is survived by a son, Gary L. Jackson (wife, Kathy) of Jacksonville; four grandchildren, Dr. Matt Jackson (wife, Nykole) of East Peoria, Amber Larsen (husband, Michael) of Lisle, Benjamin L. Jackson (wife, Crystal) of San Diego, CA, and Chance A. Jackson of Versailles; eight great-grandchildren, Will, Grace, Tripp, Luke, Rebecca, Isabella, Aria and Brooklyn; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Becky Jo Jackson; a brother, Harry Jackson; and three sisters, Ethel Huston, Lois Simms and Mildred Riggins.
Jack graduated from Roseville High School in 1941 and served his country from 1943 to 1945 in the Third Army Headquarters as a Staff Sergeant under General George S. Patton during WW II. He returned to attend the University of Illinois under the GI Bill, graduating in 1951 with academic honors. He joined Proctor & Gamble Distributing Company based in St. Louis, serving as an area manager for 32 years until his retirement in 1983.
He was a member of the Community Christian Church in Jacksonville serving as an elder for 21 years. He was also a life member of the NRA, a member of Jacksonville American Legion Post #279, and a charter member of Jacksonville Family Campers on Lake Jacksonville.
A talented woodworker, Jack enjoyed raising tomatoes in his garden and tending to apple trees in his yard. He enjoyed being outdoors especially hunting, shooting, and fishing. For many years, he maintained an active lifestyle, often telling his family that he would “rather wear out than rust out”. His widest smiles and greatest moments of joy were reserved for visits from his great-grandchildren.
