Lewis "Junior" Jackson

Lewis “Junior” Jackson, 88, of Kanawha passed away Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at the Kanawha Community Home.

Memorial services for Junior Jackson will be held on Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 2:00 PM at the Kanawha Lutheran Church, 124 West Fourth Street in Kanawha with Pastor Geoffrey White officiating.  Burial will be held at Amsterdam Township Cemetery in Kanawha.

Visitation will be held on Friday, June 3, 2016 from 5:00 – 7:00 PM at Ewing Funeral Home, 118 East Second Street in Kanawha and will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Lewis “Junior” Jackson, Jr., the fourth of eight children was born January 9, 1928 to Lewis Sr. and Selma (Jacobson) Jackson in Kanawha, Iowa.  Later in life, he renovated and lived in the family home, adding a basement and addition.

Junior was raised in Kanawha and attended Kanawha High School.  Following high school, Junior worked as a carpenter for Koehler Construction in Kanawha.

Junior served in the United States Army during the Korean War.  Following his honorable discharge, he returned to north central Iowa where he continued to work in construction.

Junior was united in marriage in 1945 to Verna Williamson, to this union, daughter Janet was born on Junior’s 18th birthday.  Junior was later united in marriage to Ethelene (Ward) Hall on November 18, 1988.  The couple made their home in Kanawha and loved dancing and taking fishing trips together.  Later, when Ethelene was a resident of the Kanawha Community Home, he visited her daily.

Along with his brothers, Junior formed Jackson Brothers Construction and they built and renovated numerous homes in and around Kanawha.

Junior’s woodworking skills spilled over into a hobby of building furniture and toys for friends and family.  He also was an avid fisherman and he enjoyed hunting and cooking.  His “JR’s Bean Soup” is still a favorite at the Kanawha Fire Department’s soup suppers.  He was active member of the fire department from 1972-1989.

Junior was a voracious reader, World War II historian and he enjoyed the Sunday crossword puzzles.  He’ll be remembered most for his quick wit, sense of humor and love of family.

Junior is survived by his daughter Janet (Vern) Dietel of Kanawha; step-daughter Beth (Tim) Poage of Corwith; grandchildren Jenny (Allen) Eden and their children Delaney, Brooklynn and Jackson of Clear Lake and Jamie (Mike) Fischer and daughter Isabelle of Janesville, Minnesota; step-grandchildren Tricia (Duane) McGregor and family, Cassie (Bruce) Collins and family, Dan (Melissa) Burrs and family; step-daughter-in-law Jamie and children Caitlin, Brianna, Hanna and Thomas; siblings Marian Kraft, Paul (Kaye) Jackson and Vivian Waage; along with numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Junior is preceded in death by his parents, wife Ethelene in 2012, step-son Scott Hall, siblings Leroy “Red” Jackson, Alvin Jackson, Stanley Jackson and Luetta Stoeckel.