Francis James Jackson

Francis James Jackson, the son of James Ingalls and Meta Viola Chamberlain Jackson, was born November 3, 1934 at Fettes Hospital in Spencer, Iowa. His childhood years were spent near Langdon, where he received his education at Meadow #8 country school for 2 years and then #5 through 8th grade. He later attended Spencer High School, where he graduated in 1952. While in school, he was active in football, track, study club and dancing club. Francis was also active in the Spencer FFA Chapter, serving as president, vice president, treasurer and assistant treasurer. He earned the FFA Star Farmer and Iowa Farmer awards. Following his schooling, he served in the A Battery 194th Field Artillary - 105/155 Howitzers of the Iowa National Guard in Spencer. He served from 1952 through 1958, 1960 and 1961 and was honorably discharged in 1961. He was in the Survey Division at the rank of Specialist 2nd Class. Francis married Alma Jean Lorenz on June 16, 1955 and to this union a daughter, Beverly was born. Francis married Jean Prentice on August 3, 1962 and to this union, two children: Rodney Alan and Jodi Lynn were born. Francis was a member of the Langdon Methodist Church, later transferring to Hope Reformed Church in Spencer. He was also a member of the Meadow 4-H Club, the Meadow Minute Men 4-H Club for 10 years, was a leader of the Meadow Minute Men for 11 years, served on the Clay County 4-H County Committee for 6 years and was on the County Committee Council for 4 years. He was also Dairy Superintendent for the 4-H at the Clay County Fair for 15 years. Francis worked at the Clay County Soil Conservation Service, the A.S.C.S. Office as a farmland measurer/certifier for farm programs and measured bins of corn and beans for the farm grain-sealing program. Francis' major occupation was farming. He also had a dairy herd. He also worked for Roy Shatto, driving truck. He later worked for Prentice Backhoe. Francis also helped plant the trees in West Leach Park in Spencer. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1977. Francis and Jean have lived their entire married life in Meadow Township in Clay County, Iowa. The last few years, his love was his yard, flowers and yard art. He also very much enjoyed the Monday morning men's bible study. Francis passed away at his home near Langdon on Saturday, July 29, 2006 at the age of 71. His parents, James and Meta; 2 sisters in infancy and two aunts, Pauline and Cec Chamberlain, preceded him in death. Francis is survived by his wife, Jean of rural Spencer, IA; 1 son, Rodney and his wife, Teri Jackson of Cambridge, MN; 2 daughters: Jodi and her husband, Paul Preston of Des Moines, IA and Beverly Joyce of Glenwood Springs, CO; his grandchildren: Alyssa and Samantha Jackson, Colton and Breazi Preston and Justin and Madison Joyce; one brother, Gary and his wife, Karen Jackson of Dickens, IA; one sister, Judy and her husband, Jim Lyster of Clear Lake, IA; many other nieces and nephews and lots of extended family and friends.

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