OBITUARY Robert “Bob” Shoemaker Jackson III January 12, 1938 – January 1, 2019 Play Tribute Movie ROBERT (BOB JACKSON) SHOEMAKER JACKSON III, 80, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, January 1, 2019, with his family surrounding him at Coventry Meadows Assisted Living in Fort Wayne. Born January 12, 1938, in Corning, New York, he was the son of the late Robert Shoemaker Jackson II (1920-1997) and Virginia (Bolton) Jackson (1910-1987). He graduated from Howe Military School in 1956 and joined the Army Reserves.
Primarily raised by his mother Virginia and grandmother Bolton of Auburn, Indiana, he married Ladonna (Ralston) of Gladys and Frank Ralston of Huntington County at Loon Creek U.M.C. in November of 1970. They lived in Huntington, Indiana, until 1972 when they moved to Fort Wayne. Bob and Ladonna raised their family while attending Calvary United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne.
He worked at Kroger, Terminex, and then founded Jackson Pest Management in 1985, originally called Ornamental Pest Control, but was always know as “Dead Bug Bob” to his friends. He was a frequent visitor of Karen’s Kitchen Donuts in Waynedale. His son joined the business in 2001, and took over operation in 2011.
He received the Indiana Pest Management Hall of Fame award in 2013 for his years of service in the Pest Control Industry. He was a member of Amity Masonic Lodge 483, Fort Wayne Valley of Scottish Rite, the Mizpah Shrine, and the York Rite Masons. He called Waynedale Masonic Lodge 739 his home lodge, because he attended there regularly with his son.
He was also a past president of the Kiwanis, and member of the Moose. In 2011, he underwent a heart valve replacement with some complications. Bob was then forced to retire, and spent more time with Ladonna while she worked at Walmart at Apple Glen.
After 20 years at Walmart, she retired and they moved to Coventry Meadows on W. Jefferson Blvd. in 2017. He is survived by his wife, Ladonna; two children, Robert (Jennifer) Shoemaker Jackson IV and Sheila Dianne (Sean) Hamm; four grandchildren, Alexandra Underwood (20), Savannah Underwood (14), Celest Jackson (13), and Robert Shoemaker Jackson V (11); and three step-grandchildren, Kyle Hamm (23), Mikayla Hamm (21) and Mikenna Hamm (17).
“Bob had received great care at Davita in Waynedale for dialysis for the last seven years. Coventry Meadows put their arms around Bob and Ladonna and made them part of the community. God Bless Bob Jackson”.
Funeral service is 11 a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2019, at Klaehn, Fahl, & Melton Funeral Home, 6424 Winchester Road, Fort Wayne (IN 46819), with calling one hour prior. Visitation also from 3 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 4, 2019, at the funeral home, with a Masonic funeral service at 7:30 p.m. Burial will follow at Woodlawn Cemetery in Auburn, Indiana. Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary United Methodist Church or Shriners Hospitals for Children.
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