Robert Renn Jackson
July 7,1942 – August 1, 2022
In God’s wisdom, he determined that the world wouldn’t come to know him through its wisdom. Instead, God was pleased to save those who believe through the foolishness of preaching. —1 Corinthians 1:21, CEB
WEST BALDWIN – Robert Renn Jackson (age 80), passed away unexpectedly Monday, August 1, 2022 at his home in West Baldwin. He was born July 7, 1942 in Deerfield, MA, eldest son of the late, Robert Howard Jackson and Margaret Louise Hall Jackson.
Bob was a handsome, charismatic, hard-working, and service-minded person all his life. Caring for chickens and cows, he worked the family farm throughout his school years. He had a paper route in his youth for personal money. Voted best dancer of his high school, Frontier Regional in Deerfield, MA, he sported a fashionable “DA” haircut. After high school, he worked a variety of positions, including Drivers’ Ed Instructor, house painter, Real Estate agent, and automobile salesperson, while studying at Greenfield Community College. He was active in student government and well-suited to the political life. He proudly walked the Parade Route with wife Sandra (2 miles!) at his GCC 50th Class Reunion.
In 1963, he joined the US Air Force and did four years as a Maintenance Specialist, refueling B-52s in the Vietnam War while stationed in Thailand. Honors received included: National Defense Service Medal (NDSM), Air Force Good Conduct Medal (AFGCM), (SO G-38), a recognition from his 42nd Bombing Wing out of Limestone, ME (42 BWG), Republic of Vietnam Service Medal (VSM), and Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). At present, he has been active in the local American Legion, Post #123—Kezar Falls, ME, serving as Chaplain since 2018.
After returning home from service, Bob began a management training position with Friendly Ice Cream, Corp. He rose to being a “problem store” fixer and then a District Manager, moving all over the East Coast and Mid-West. As a manager, he turned the Manchester, VT location into a “Million Dollar Store.” He also worked as a District Manager for Deering Ice Cream in Maine and Smiley’s Restaurant and Ice Cream in Waterville-Winslow, ME. (It’s a good thing he really loved ice cream!) Bob loved to travel and especially to drive. Escaping the corporate food service mentality, he tried long haul trucking for several years—regularly earning Safe Driver Awards.
Pastor Bob, as he was known in the last decades of his life, came into his calling and vocation in the early 2000s as a Local Licensed Pastor in the United Methodist Church. He was appointed to Dalton UMC in Dalton, MA from 2006-2011 when he retired. They were living with mother-in-law Katherine Schechterle Pierce in order to help her stay in her home as she aged. He and first wife of 50 years, Donna Pierce Jackson, relocated to Maine to be near their daughter, where he worshipped at West Baldwin UMC in West Baldwin, ME and served as Outreach and Evangelism Director. Coming out of retirement, Bob then served Riverside UMC from 2017 and just re-retired June 30, 2022.
Returning to his farming roots in Maine, Pastor Bob raised food for local food pantries for a few years. Working with Don Kauber, he collaborated on BIFF (Baldwin Initiative for Food). Bob also gleaned crops from Sherman Farms in Center Conway, NH and started seedlings, planted and maintained rows of produce on Pineroot Farm and Sweet Relief Farm in Steep Falls for local food pantries. Active in the East Baldwin Food Pantry as volunteer and the Brownfield Food Pantry, as Chaplain and Board Member, he worked tirelessly serving families in need. Bob supported the Steep Falls Farmers’ Market for a few years with a community table, especially promoting local business Snickerdoodles coffee and baked goods and Naturally Jammin’ honey products. Bob loved flowers and landscaped all around his homes throughout his life. He loved outdoor work and yard maintenance. He and Sandra now keep chickens—supplying the local bakery/café , Sugar and Spice. Even in retirement, Pastor Bob still supported the Methodist Medical Equipment Ministry with members of West Baldwin and Riverside UMC. Finally, Bob continued his life-long love of dancing by regularly attending Friday night dances at the American Legion Post #197 – Westbrook with wife Sandra.
During Covid-19 isolation, Bob returned to his early carpentry roots and built a huge back deck with pool and restored the property rock wall. He enjoyed floating on the water with Sandra.
Lastly, Bob had a love of classic cars his whole life. In the 1970s he partnered with a mechanic on a Buick Business Coupe shell that needed massive restoration. But in 2018, he found his dream car in the Meadowlark Yellow 1955 Thunderbird convertible with both hard top and soft top. He proudly attended local Car Shows and Cruise In Nights, winning many awards.
Bob is survived by his beloved wife, Sandra Locke-Jackson, of West Baldwin, ME and her mother, Pauline DeLong; his daughter, Robena (Bo) Jackson Landsperg, and her husband, Tony, and daughter, Hope, of Steep Falls, ME, and seven siblings and their families: Leslie (Short) Jackson of Turners Falls, MA; Susan (pronounced Suzanne) Jackson Taylor of Coeur d’Alene, ID; twins June Jackson Thurber of Turners Falls, MA and Jane Wolff of Terry, MT; Jim Jackson of Lewiston, ID; Joan Margaret (Peggy) Jackson Sturgil of Santa, ID; Linwood (Joe) Jackson of Weiser, ID. Bob was predeceased by sister Rena Jackson Sumner of Fairbanks (AK) and, in infancy, Rena’s twin, Wayne Jackson.
Celebration of Life service will be held Saturday, August 13, 2022 at 2 pm at Riverside United Methodist Church, 5 School Street, Porter, ME. Rev. Dr. Debra J. Hanson presiding. Tony Landsperg will provide the service Music. Reception following in the Fellowship Hall.
Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home are handling the arrangements. This obituary and online condolence messages on their website: mainefuneral.com.
In lieu of flowers you can make a donation to the New England Chapter of the Wesley Covenant Association in Pastor Bob Jackson’s name: Pastor John Robbins, 48 Birch Street, Acushnet, MA 02763.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Poitras, Neal & York Funeral Home, Cornish, www.mainefuneral.com
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