Carleton Jackson

Carleton Olaf Jackson, 88, passed away peacefully to the sounds of Tony Bennett, on Thursday, September 12, 2024 in Ankeny, IA. His daughter and Pastor were at his side and although he had been struggling with declining health, he was cheerful until the final week of his life.

Carl was born in Sioux City, IA on March 11, 1936 to Olaf and Ethel (Anderson) Jackson. Carl enjoyed pestering his big sister Beverly, sharing lemonade stands and a bicycle—which she never got to ride because Carl was always off exploring with his best friend Tom Cale. Mrs. Smith was his favorite Hunt Elementary School teacher, although she called him a show-off and scolded him for talking too much. Carl’s parents were proud Norwegian/Swedes and he grew up eating lutefisk and learning Viking history, sparking his love of travel.

At North Junior High, he joined the Radio/Photography Club, leading to a lifelong interest in photography. Carl enjoyed musical theater and even though he couldn’t sing, he loved being in the chorus of several Gilbert and Sullivan musicals at Central High School, the “Castle on the Hill”. Carl was more social than studious but he managed to graduate from Central mid-year in 1954. He worked after school at Williams Appliance, shining vacuum cleaners and climbing roofs to install the first TV antennas. Then he headed to “the shop”, T & W Tire, where he had dinner with his family, pumped gas and capped tires until 11:00 PM closing time. In high school, Carl joined DeMolay (also persuading his dad to become a Mason) and made lifelong friends Tom Cale, Gerry Herber and Bill Henson.

Carl began at Iowa State University in the fall of 1954, driving to Ames in his $40 Ford with holes in the floorboard. He joined Sigma Chi fraternity, where he met more lifelong friends. Carl loved college because he didn’t have to work in the shop, giving him more time to socialize. At a Lutheran Student Center social the first week of school, Carl met his future wife, Joan Funke during an icebreaking game. He invited her to the Memorial Union for a Coke and called her later that week at Lyon Hall. She couldn’t remember his name but agreed to go out with him. Carl would disappear between Joan’s October birthday and Valentine’s Day but he got more serious when she took a teaching job in Denver. Carl put on his best suit and took his first airplane ride to Denver, surprising Joan and charming her into marrying him. Carl graduated from ISU’s college of business in 1958, married Joan in 1959 then settled back in Sioux City to take over the family business. Their daughter Kayla was born in 1960. Carl and Joan were an inseparable pair until Joan’s passing in 2023.

Carl joined the Air Nation Guard from 1958- 1964, stationed at the Sioux City Airport so he could make coffee for the officers and still keep the tire shop running. He loved being a part of the era of technical advancement in the tire industry. T & W sold several brands, including Bridgestone and Michelin—which sponsored fabulous dealer trips to places like Japan and France where Carl and Joan gladly kicked up their heels. When the Bandag retreading process became popular for truck tires in the 1980’s, Carl adapted T & W to capture this market. He loved to tell Roy Carver stories – when Roy visited Sioux City, Carl marveled that this titan of industry had holes in his shoes!

Carl and Joan bought their first house on South Oleander Street, in a neighborhood dubbed the “Fertile Valley” because there were so many families with young children. Carl and Joan made lifelong friends at the frequent neighborhood cookouts while their daughter Kayla ran with packs of kids. They were also 50-year members of the Potluck Group, four couples who met once a month to dine and laugh uproariously. Carl and Joan moved to an acreage in south Morningside in order to have extra room for horses and Carl’s motorhome. When customers could not pay cash for tires, Carl was always open to a fair barter, This is how Kayla got her woefully untrained horse Gallant Lady (along with several barn cats) and Joan got a lime green plush couch. Carl was constantly planning his next trip—some favorites were meeting Kayla in London where she was studying (forcing Carl to develop his left-side driving skills) and Australia to visit bonus children Roger and Jenny Moore.

Carl loved music, particularly jazz and country music. He would try to steer business trips through Branson, MO so he could catch shows. His dream was to move to Branson in his beloved motor home upon retirement and be an auditorium usher. Joan did not share this dream. Carl relished the memories of concerts he had attended – Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra in Ames when he was supposed to be at his parents-in-law’s house, Willie Nelson at the Cattle Congress in Waterloo when Joan accidentally wore sandals to the dirt-floored venue. He even enjoyed chamber music and the symphony with Joan. He passes on a love of jazz to his daughter Kayla, along with a stellar collection of vinyl.

Carl and Joan lived the final decade of their lives in Ankeny, making more friends at their townhouse and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. They enjoyed motorhome camping trips in Okoboji, as well as winters in Gulf Shores, AL and visiting the Reifs in San Luis Obispo, CA. They loved living close to Kayla and Jeff and watching their granddaughter Greer grow. Carl was an enthusiastic member of Tyrian Lodge 508, Shrine and Morningside Lutheran Church in Sioux City. In Ankeny, he enjoyed attending High 12 and Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. Even as Carl’s health declined at the Suites of Ankeny, he was known for his smile and cheerful disposition. Carl celebrated his 88th birthday in March with a mariachi band and margaritas. He was thrilled to be able to attend Greer and Jacob's wedding dinner in June and he was still planning sweet corn feeds for Suites several weeks before his passing.

Carl was so appreciative of the awesome caregivers who supported him the final two years of his life. On his behalf, his family thanks the staff at Suites of Ankeny and St. Croix Hospice – all truly angels on Earth.

Carl is survived by his daughter, Kayla Stratton of Ankeny; granddaughter, Greer Stratton and her husband Jacob Stastny; sister and brother-in-law, Karen and Gary Reif of San Luis Obispo, CA; as well as a niece and nephews in CA, SD, and IA. He was preceded in death by his parents, Olaf and Ethel Jackson; his sister, Beverly Bader; his son-in-law Jeff Stratton; and his favorite Labrador Bilbo.

A memorial service will be held September 26, 2024 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church (517 SW Des Moines St, Ankeny, IA 50023) at 4:00 PM. A visitation will be held one hour prior at the church. Following the service, there will be a barbeque reception at Firetrucker Brewery. A Masonic service will be held on September 28th, 2024 at Scottish Rite in Sioux City (801 Douglas St, Sioux City, IA 51101) The service will take place at 12:00 PM sharp with a luncheon following. All are welcome! Bring your favorite Carl story to share! Inurnment for both Carl and Joan will occur at 3:30 PM on September 28, 2024 at Memorial Park Cemetery in Sioux City.

Memorials may be directed to the Ankeny Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Food Pantry.