Donald "Don" F. Jackson

Donald “Don” F. Jackson, age 69, of Freeman, Missouri, passed away on Saturday, June 17, 2023, following a long battle with dementia.

Memorial service will be held at 10:00 am, Thursday, July 6, 2023, at Queen of the Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 22779 Metcalf Rd., Bucyrus, Kansas 66013. Interment and military honors will take place following the service at Holy Rosary Cemetery.

Don lived a long, interesting and successful life. He was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, and joined the Navy after high school. In the Navy, Don was a member of a flight crew that flew all over the world in a P3 aircraft doing reconnaissance missions. His love for the Navy eventually led him to acquire his single engine pilot’s license, followed by his flight instructor certificates for both single and twin-engine aircraft. In 1978, Don met Elaine, he was her flight instructor. The couple was married in June of 1979.

Don went to college in St. Paul, Minnesota, and learned the art of pottery. Over several years he threw many pieces of pottery, studied the art of glazing, and sold many pieces at craft shows. Don and Elaine moved to Freeman, Missouri, in 1981, where they bought a piece of property and began a four-year process of building a house on a hill.

He was a software developer and for several years, his company designed and developed an application for the insurance industry that automated the production of insurance proposals. Don’s interest in trains led him to train shows. He had a membership with the Friends of the 261, Milwaukee Road 261 steam locomotive, located in Minnesota. Don took many trips on the renovated 261 locomotive. He then built his own model railroad with both steam and diesel engines.

Later in life, Don started purchasing and building rental complexes. For 25 years, he was in the rental business and Elaine managed the tenants. He earned his skydiver certification and deep-sea diver certification. Don used this to dive on the wrecks in Lake Superior.

His biggest joy was big rig driving, which was the last job he held before his eyesight began to fail. He traveled from coast to coast and had many adventures.

Don was preceded in death by his father, Donald F. Jackson, Sr, mother, Elizabeth Jackson, and brother, Jerome Jackson. He is survived by his wife, Elaine Jackson, sister, Hope Smith, of Florida, and his cat, Shadow.

Rest in Peace Don, your life was full and very successful.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made payable to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration or Kansas City Hospice House Foundation, c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, PO Box 669, Louisburg, Kansas 66053.