Donald Dean Jackson, age 86, of Tucson, AZ, went to be with our Lord and our Savior on on Friday, December 3, 2021, with his family by his side. Donald was born on September 1, 1935 in Blackwell, Oklahoma, the son of Homer Loren and Nora Belle (Schauwecker) Jackson.

He enjoyed attending his church, working out, and sharing time with his family and friends. He also enjoyed time spent at the Linton Masonic Lodge #560 where he served as Worshipful Master during the year 1975.

Donald was a US Air Force Veteran, serving during the Vietnam era for four years. He was a member of the American Legion Post #22 in Linton, Indiana, the Green Valley Christian Center Assembly of God, Las Vegas, Nevada and attended the Eastside Assembly of God after moving to Tucson, Arizona.

He lived in Linton, working at the Naval Weapons Support Center, Crane from 1963 until 1981, then transferred to the Naval Weapons Station, Seal Beach, California where he served as tri-service weapons quality evaluation programs coordinator and chief design consultant for the explosive train system employed in the newly developed Navy Tomahawk Cruise Missile. In 1989, he received the Secretary of Defense, Frank Carlucci during a ceremony held at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

After retiring from the Department of Defense in 1990, Donald worked in the Environmental, Health and Safety Office of the US Environmental Protection Agency in Las Vegas, Nevada until retiring from there in 2012 and moving to Tucson, Arizona with his wife, Lue Ann Corrigan Jackson.

He and his first wife, Norma O. Gadberry raised four children, Robert Dean, Rita Jean, Debra Irene and Donald Derrick.

He is preceded in death by his parents; daughters, Rita Crysell and Debra “Debbie” Jackson; sisters, Margaret Ruth Remington, Betty Jean Jackson and brothers, Billy Loren Jackson, Jerry Schauwecker Jackson and Richard Lee Jackson as well as a sister-in-law, Sigrid Jackson.

Donald is survived by his wife, Lue Ann Jackson of Tucson, Arizona; sons, Donald “Derrick” (Becky) Jackson and Robert Jackson, both of Linton; sister-in-law, Gloria Jackson; granddaughters, Alishia Jackson, Ericka Jackson, Brittany (Chance) Kelley and Jennifer Crysell; grandsons, Jeremy (Lynsey) Slater, Travis Creech and Brandon Crysell.

He is also survived by his step-daughter, Debra “Deb” (Marty) Cruze of Seattle, Washington; step-son, David (Orchid) Jones of Tucson, Arizona; several nieces and nephews and 25 great grandchildren.

A celebration of life will be held at the Welch & Cornett Funeral Home at 1:00 pm on Saturday, January 8 2022.

A memorial visitation will be held at the funeral home on Saturday from 11:00 am until the time of service.

The family asks that you come and share Donald’s life and memories with them.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Linton Assembly of God Church..

Online condolences may be shared with Donald’s family at www.welchcornett.com.