Elaine L. Jackson

Hi! My name is Elaine Lois Draeger Jackson. I was born on August 4, 1927 in the small township of Oak Grove to Amos and Rose (Wegener) Draeger… and had the good fortune of growing up on a small farm just outside of Juneau, Wisconsin. I have such wonderful memories of helping my dad with chores, milking cows, driving tractor, baling hay, feeding chickens, a few pigs, lots of steers, and way too many cats!!   

Mom was a wonderful gardener, baker and cook. My two sisters, Delores and Marilyn, loved to play piano and read, but I preferred just singing and being outdoors doing chores or playing ball with my niece & nephews… We had many great ‘adventures’, but my favorite was playing ‘Santa’ @ Christmas time!! 

After graduating from Juneau High School, I worked in the County Courthouse, and saved up enough money to attend Moody Bible Institute, and earn a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education from Wheaton College in Illinois. I very much enjoyed my teaching career, teaching 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, first in Beloit, Illinois and then settling down in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin at Rockwell Elementary. 

It was while attending Faith Community Church in Fort Atkinson that I was introduced to a fine Christian gentleman name Harold Jackson, who was retired from the Navy and widowed with six lovely children; Janice, Jill, Kay and Donald, and stepsons, Jerry and Fred Mills. Only Kay and Donald were still at home, and I thought I knew everything about kids. But having never raised any of my own, I found I still had a lot to learn. I have to admit, those Jackson family reunions at Thanksgiving time were really something to look forward to. I am so thankful for the 35 years of companionship and marriage that Harold and I were blessed to share. Many road trips, visiting his 15 siblings, as well as a special visit to Adrian Rogers’ ‘The COVE’ – the Billy Graham Retreat Center in North Carolina. 

Following Harold’s passing in 2005, I relocated to Beaver Dam to be closer to my niece, Patricia, and have enjoyed reconnecting with old friends from the Bible Baptist Church my parents were charter members of, and making new friends at the Stone Terrace Senior Apartments.  A special thank you to Jennifer and Sue for making me feel so welcome there, and to Loren for his entertaining sing-alongs!!   

In 2019, after several falls, I was encouraged to move in to Asst. Living (during those crazy COVID  lockdown years), I am happy to say we finally found our “special place”, ‘At Home Again’, in Columbus, WI, where we were privileged to spend the last three and 3/4 years. Unfortunately, in the last move we lost track of my address book so we have been ‘off the radar’ for the past three years, and are so grateful for those friends who have taken the time and trouble to hunt us down and stop by for a visit. 

We are especially grateful to our friends, Jan and Duane Crandall, Jeff Kroeger, Wayne and Beverly Smith, Joan Dykstra, Bette Crum, Pastor Larry and Donna Meyer, Pastor Peter Ostrander, and all our Harmony Baptist friends for their generous assistance in our many moves. We are especially grateful to Ariann Morschauser and the ‘At Home Again’ staff, as well as our ‘special angel’ friends from Generations Hospice who assisted us in this final transition. Needless to say, I am finally truly ‘At Home Again’ in the presence of our faithful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has been my constant companion throughout the journey.  I am more fully alive today than I ever have been.  I can’t wait for you to join me.  

Preceding Elaine to heaven are husband, Harold Jackson, sister; Delores Davis; brothers-in-law, Les Pardun & Richard Davis; step-son, Jerry Mills; grand-nephew, Joel Pardun, and many Jackson in-laws… Survivors include one sister, Marilyn Pardun of Eau Claire; nephew, Lon (Dawn) Pardun of  Eau Claire; grandnephews, Josh Pardun of Minnesota and Michael Pardun of Eau Claire;  and step niece, Abigail (Dalton) Everhard of Eau Claire; Special niece, Patricia Elaine Davis of Beaver Dam; nephew, Stephen Davis of Berkeley Lake, GA; grandniece, Sarah (Harrison) Guillery of Duluth, GA; grandnephew, Daniel (Sharon) Davis of Odenville, GA; six great grandnephews and nieces; Stepdaughters, Janice (Michael) Altobelli of Iron Mountain, MI, Jill (Nick) Jackson of Peshtigo, Kay (Mark) Destefano of Canton OH, Donald (Elana) Jackson of Marinette; stepson, Fred (Dorothy) Mills of Green Valley, AZ, and Elaine Mills of Gladstone, MI; and too many step grandkids, nieces and nephews to count!!  

All are invited to join us for a ‘Celebration of Life’ at Harmony Baptist Church, N8954 County Road W in Beaver Dam on Thursday, July 25, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.  Visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of service, with a Luncheon to follow… Burial will be at Juneau City Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Samaritan’s Purse.