Jeanette Helen Jackson, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on June 13, 2022. She was born May 3, 1941, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Glenn Henry and Helen Biesinger Johnson. Jeanette grew up with her three brothers, Glenn Ross, Paul, and Philip, and her two sisters, Linda, and Shirley, in Salt Lake City. In her youth, she was also known as “Jenny”, “Net Pet”, and “JJ”. Her parents were heavily involved in music, so it also became an important part of her family life. As a youth, she learned to play the piano and sing. Jeanette attended East High School where she enjoyed singing in the Acapella choir. She also accompanied the church children’s primary group on the piano.
In December of 1960, Jeanette met Frederick Jackson and their first date was on New Year’s Eve. They became engaged on Christmas Day in 1961. On September 25, 1962, she was married to Fred in the Logan, Utah Temple. She later said of that event, “So began many years of happy times, joys and sorrows, success and failure as we travel the road of life. Hopefully, our posterity will remember our love for each other and our children and grandchildren”.
In June of 1963, Jeanette graduated from the University of Utah with a degree in Elementary Education. A year later, in August of 1964, their first son, Steven, was born. They raised five children together-three boys and two girls while they lived in the Salt Lake City area.
Her husband, Fred, was very devoted to her. She remembered fondly their first few years as university students and especially their first Christmas together. Fred bought a $2.00 Christmas tree which they loaded with icicles because it was so skinny. It was so heavy with icicles that they had to tie it up with string to the door frame to keep it from falling over.
Jeanette worked hard outside the home for many years in addition to raising a family. From her nightshift work in the Harmon’s bakery, to the office work at Jacobson-Robbins, and her years working for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, she was dedicated to contributing to her family. She worked in curriculum and Fred in accounting for many years at the church office building in downtown Salt Lake City. They often ate lunch together in addition to traveling to work and back every day. Jeanette enjoyed the close associations she had with several apostles and general authorities of the church in her various responsibilities while working in her later years.
While raising their family, Jeanette and Fred spent happy years planning for and building a cabin in the Heber Valley area. Most Summer and Fall weekends were spent caring for the cabin once it was built. Their children and grandchildren enjoyed spending time with them there and created many memories.
Jeanette served in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in a variety of capacities. In addition to her service as Relief Society and Primary President, she enjoyed many other opportunities to serve. She especially enjoyed her time as a Stake Patriarch recorder as a young adult, and as a Family History worker in retirement.
After retirement, Jeanette and Fred moved to St. George, Utah. They enjoyed singing together in a barbershop group, and took daily neighborhood walks. Fred often told others that “the best thing that ever happened in my life was meeting my wife”. In addition to spending time with Fred, Jeanette enjoyed reading, sewing, and crocheting. She and Fred served a church Family History mission during their retirement years in St. George, Utah. Jeanette loved her Family History mission time and considered it a wonderful opportunity to serve The Lord and to help others research family relationships.
Jeanette suffered from dementia in her later years, but as her health declined her memories of her childhood became fond. She often talked of the many times she spent with her Grandpa Johnson in his garden-she laughed about him making excuses for her help to just spend time with her. Her family was a frequent concern to her even as their names and details faded.
Jeanette is survived by four children: Carol (Greg), Thomas (Carol), Shawna (Johnny), and Glenn (Lori), 21 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her husband, Frederick “Fred”, and her son, Steven Frederick Jackson.
A viewing will be held at Wasatch Lawn Mortuary on Saturday, July 2nd, at noon. A graveside service will be held at 2 pm.
