JACKSON, John C. 1914 - 2017
JACKSON, SCHNEIDER, FLENNER, HARPER, SHAFFER
Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 5/7/2017 at 13:33:28
"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, April 24, 2017
Page 4John C. JACKSON
John C. JACKSON, 102, of Fairfield, died Saturday, April 22, 2017, at SunnyBrook Living Care Center.
Behner Funeral Home is helping the family with arrangements.
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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Page 4John C. JACKSON
John C. JACKSON, 102, of Fairfield, died Saturday, April 22, 2017, at SunnyBrook Living Care Center.
The funeral will be 1 p.m. Friday at Behner Funeral Home. Burial, with military rites, will be at Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington, Iowa (note: in Washington Co., IA).
Visitation will be 6-8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to American Cancer Society or Disabled American Veterans. Online condolences can be made at www.behnerfh.com.
Mr. JACKSON was born Sept. 19, 1914, in Washington, Iowa, to John and Elsie SCHNEIDER JACKSON. He married Phyllis FLENNER; she died in April 1987. He married Mona HARPER SHAFFER May 2, 1992. She died in-December 2009 (sic).
Mr. JACKSON lived his entire life in southeast Iowa. He graduated from Washington High School in Washington and Parsons College in Fairfield. He lived in Fairfield most of his life.
Mr. JACKSON was long-time owner of the Fairfield Feed Company. The company, first known as Jackson and Catlett Mill, was started by his father, John E. JACKSON, and Rollin Catlett in 1930. Six years later, the senior Jackson bought out Catlett and the business name was changed to Fairfield Feed Company.
After graduating from high school and college, Mr. JACKSON joined his father in the business until he was called to military service in World War II.
Mr. JACKSON joined the former 133rd Infantry Band in Fairfield in November 1933, and saw action overseas during World War II. After 3.5 years in Europe, he returned to Fairfield and joined the Iowa National Guard's 34th Army Band. After 40 years with the band, he retired in 1974.
When he returned home after his wartime service, Mr. JACKSON also rejoined his father at the feed company. When his father retired in 1955, he became sole owner and managed the business until selling it in 1978.
Mr. JACKSON was a charter member of the Washington Municipal Band in 1932. He donated funds to help build a new bandstand in Washington in 2010, and the Washington Municipal Band honored him by playing his favorite song, "Lassus Trombone."
The philanthropist also donated money to the Fairfield Arts & Convention Center to start an endowment for the center, and he established the John Jackson Instrumental Music Scholarship awarded yearly to a Fairfield High School student and administered by the Greater Jefferson County Foundation.
He was a member of the Elks, Eagles, 34th Infantry Association and Musician Union Association.
Surivors include: stepchildren, Stephen (Vicki) SHAFFER of Rio Rancho, New Mexico, and Cliff (Terry) SHAFFER of Granbury, Texas; and seven stepgrandchildren.
In addition to his two wives, he was preceded in death by: his parents; and brother, Harold.
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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Front Page and Page 5John JACKSON dies at 102
By Andy Hallman,
Ledger news editorFairfield resident and mainstay in the 34th Army Band John JACKSON died Saturday at age 102.
JACKSON served in the National Guard from 1933 to 1974, and fought in Northern Africa and Italy during World War II. He was a charter member of the Washington Municipal Band in 1932. JACKSON went on to become the 34th Army Band's First Sergeant, which meant he was the highest ranking non-commissioned officer in the company.
A constant throughout his life was his immense generosity. He donated $175,000 in 2009 to build a bandstand in Washington's Central Park. He established the John Jackson Instrumental Music Scholarship years ago for graduating Fairfield High School seniors. In 2016, he added a second instrumental music scholarship to the program.
In addition to many of his own accomplishments, JACKSON was the son of Iowa's first Olympian, John E. JACKSON. His father was also the first Iowan to win a gold medal at the games, which he did in sharpshooting at the 1912 games in Stockholm, Sweden.
"He used the 1903 Springfield, the same weapon we were issued at the beginning of World War II," the younger JACKSON said about his father during an interview for the book "The Three of Hearts" published in 2014.
John E. JACKSON started Fairfield Feed Company, which the younger JACKSON took over and ran until his retirement in 1981.
JACKSON was born and raised in Washington, Iowa. He was not yet finished with high school when he joined the National Guard. He attended a junior college in Washington for two years before studying at Parsons College in Fairfield.
In his interview for "The Three of Hearts," JACKSON recalled his time in the military during WWII. He recalled that Africa was quite a bit different than he imagined.
"We lived in pup tents and it rained, sleeted and snowed on us," he said. "You don't think about weather like that in Africa."
Members of the band were employed in all sorts of jobs during the invasion of North Africa and Italy, such as stretcher bearers, medical personnel and road guards. JACKSON recalled in the interview that several men in his company lost their lives during the battle at the Monte Cassino monastery in Italy. He said he was lucky because he drew a different duty that day, to be in charge of the stockade. JACKSON's friends remember him fondly as a man of upstanding character.
Fairfield resident Gene Copeland said JACKSON would "give you the shirt off his back."
Copeland played trombone and baritone in the 34th Army Band from 1957-64. He said it was not much of an exaggeration to say JACKSON's life was the 34th Army Band.
"The 34th Army Band is like a fraternity. People are in it forever," he said. "The band is one of the great gems of Fairfield, and it doesn't get the attention it deserves."
Copeland said he will always remember JACKSON as his First Sergeant.
"He was an honest man, and you always knew where he stood," Copeland remarked.
Another person who remembers JACKSON fondly is Don Samuelson, a long-time Fairfield resident who now resides in Ankeny.
Samuelson enlisted in the National Guard in 1959 and stayed in until 2002.
"John was my First Sergeant wieh I enlisted, and he was one of the sharpest guys you'd ever meet," Samuelson said.
Samuelson recalled that he and other youngsters planned to play practical jokes on JACKSON, but somehow JACKSON always foiled the plan before they could pull it off.
JACKSON was a mentor to Samuelson, who would go on to become a First Sergeant himself.
"When I became First Sergeant, I would ask him how he know what to do. He'd say, "You'll figure it out, Sammy," Samuelson said. "He had my back. He let it be known I was a good choice for the position, and I never thanked him enough for it."
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In the linked photo below, John JACKSON, third from left, played clarinet in the 133rd Infantry, 34th Infantry Division Band, pictured here in 1941 at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. JACKSON died Saturday at age 102.
http://iagenweb.org/jefferson/Obit_Pictures/2017/JACKSON-John2.jpg
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*Copied with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. This material MAY NOT BE COPIED AND RE-POSTED IN ANY PUBLIC VENUE such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without permission from The Fairfield Ledger ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.
Mona HARPER SHAFFER JACKSON's obituary - click here
Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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