John S. Jackson, 82, passed away on July 7, 2016. He was born to John R. and Lois Smith Jackson in Kansas City, MO on January 28, 1934. His early childhood was spent between country life in Cameron, MO and city living in K.C. where he graduated from Westport High School. He holds a bachelor's degree in business and economics from William Jewell College in Liberty, MO where he was a proud captain of the football team.

He married his college "songbird", the former Rosemary Harrell, on December 31, 1955 and they joyfully celebrated their 60th Anniversary last New Year's Eve. To this union were born three children and four grandchildren.

Directly out of college, John was a principal tour guide conducting cross-country train excursions with a well-known national travel agency. He then began his career in the burgeoning computer sector of the 1950s with Bendix Corporation in Kansas City followed by Rocketdyne International in Neosho/Joplin, MO; Rockwell International in Tulsa; and again at Bendix corporate headquarters near Detroit. In 1976, his entrepreneurial spirit soared as he purchased a woodworking machine manufacturing company in Republic, MO renamed Kenwel-Jackson Inc. and relocated his family to Springfield where they became members of First Baptist Church. He founded Jackson Industries, an R&D firm in Willard, MO in 1979 and lastly in 1984, Computer People, a software development company in Springfield. Upon retirement, they moved into a peaceful house he built along a rolling "River Bend" and discovered his artistic side in creating modern metal furniture under the brand IRONinc, from which many pieces are now cherished family heirlooms.

He was a member of the Kappa Alpha Fraternal Order, the Kiwanis Club, coach of many little league baseball teams, mentor to a Cuban refugee during the Mariel Boatlift exodus of 1980, and humble servant as a Deacon in several church homes through the years--an honor he held in the highest regard as a devoted Christian man.

John is survived by his wife, Rosemary Harrell Jackson; two sons, Joel Douglas Jackson and his wife Jennifer; and Jay Jackson, all of Nixa, MO; and one daughter, April Jackson Speed and her husband, Paul, of Ozark, MO. He is further survived by a sister, Jody Taylor of Idaho; two granddaughters Alexis and Sophia Jackson; and two grandsons Jackson and Gram Speed; as well as many other dear relatives and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Barbara Moreau of Louisiana, who passed away the day before John.

Visitation will be held Monday afternoon at 1 PM in the sanctuary of First Baptist Church of Springfield immediately followed by services at 2 PM with the Reverend Michael Overton officiating. Burial will follow at the historic Delaware Cemetery along the James River near the family home in Nixa. Memorials can be made in John's name under the direction of Gorman–Scharpf Funeral Home to First Baptist Church–Local Missions.