Obituary Kathleen M. Jackson of Caledonia, Michigan passed away on May 9 at age 64, after a brief battle with metastatic breast cancer. She was preceded in death by two people she adored: Gerald Gless, her father and Joyce Jackson, her mother-in-law. Kathy leaves behind her husband of 41 years, Robert Jackson, son Andrew (Elizabeth) Jackson and granddaughter Sylvia June, daughter Kelley (Andrew) Essig, her mother Marjorie Gless, brothers David (Victoria) Gless, Daniel (Lauri) Gless and Richard (Cindy) Gless, sister-in-law Phyllis (Roger) Erickson, nieces, nephews and many friends.
She also says goodbye to a wonderful uncle, her dad’s twin Harold Gless, and to a special friend Savannah Nanninga Jensen. The favorite daughter of Marge and Gerald, Kathy found her match early on, meeting Bob during high school where a nine-year courtship began. Their married life began in Spartan Village, resolving their few differences by playing rock, paper, scissors (Kathy always started with paper which left her with a losing percentage).
She received her Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Women’s Studies a year later, and suddenly the Jacksons were ready to take on adulthood. Moving to Caledonia in 1980, Bob and Kathy soon started their family where Kathy put her education and energy to great use raising their children. She coached their teams, encouraged their dreams, and showed them how to live a happy and meaningful life.
She took time to mentor multiple young women who needed an adult in their lives, and continues to spend time with Savannah as a result of that mentorship program eight years later. She was a fabulous friend, wife, mother, sister, and daughter. Never afraid of a challenge, Kathy worked tirelessly to improve Caledonia Schools and her community.
She was honored as the Caledonia Hometown Hero for her volunteer work in 2012, and it is easy to see why. Her accomplishments include being commissioner of our AYSO league during its formative years, when she brought girls’ soccer to Caledonia for the first time. She served as a member and president of the Caledonia PTO, ran the Caledonia Athletic Booster concessions for four years, and chauffeured Andy, Kelley, & dozens of Caledonia kids to sports games across the state.
She co-founded the Caledonia Education Foundation, building an endowment to support exceptional education programs for the school district. Always willing to spend your tax dollars, Kathy was co-chair of the capital campaign to build a new library for Caledonia Township, which passed with 70% of the vote. And more recently she worked with the Caledonia Community Green project, which is building an amphitheater, dog park, and trail system to connect the library to multiple locations in the township.
Last year, Kathy was proud to participate in the Women’s March in Washington, and in November she was elected as a Democratic Precinct Delegate. Friends and family will remember her as someone always ready to argue her cause. She was smart, funny, and intense and deeply spiritual.
Politically if you weren’t on her side, you were wrong, and she would be happy to tell you why. She leaves this world having never lost an argument. Kathy’s life is summed up by Confucius: “Wherever you go, go with all of your heart” and Gandhi’s “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”.
Our deep thanks to Dr. Amy VanderWoude, Emily Parker, Jacki Northrup, Julie Sachau, and the entire Lemon Holton Oncology staff for their honesty and care. Thanks also to Leslie Andrews and the Spectrum Health Hospice team. Per Kathy’s wishes, cremation has taken place.
A celebration of a life well lived will take place at 12:30 pm on Friday, May 31 in the Grand Ballroom at Meijer Gardens. Immediately following the service, the family will host a “no tears” reception in the Ballroom from 1:30-4:00 PM. To send flowers to the family of Kathleen Marie Jackson, please visit Tribute Store.
Events May31 Service Friday, May 31, 2019 12:30PM – 1:30PM Frederik Meijer Gardens 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525 Get directions View MapTextEmail Order flowers for Kathleen ‘s Service. Guaranteed delivery before Kathleen ‘s Service begins.
May31 Visitation Friday, May 31, 2019 1:30PM – 4:00PM Frederik Meijer Gardens 1000 E. Beltline Ave. NE Grand Rapids, Michigan 49525 Get directions View MapTextEmail Order flowers for Kathleen ‘s Visitation. Guaranteed delivery before Kathleen ‘s Visitation begins.
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