Samuel Wayne Jacksonwas born October 12, 1922, the third child of Arthur Jacob Jackson and Olive Ann Torgerson Jackson, and passed away at his farm home on July 29, 2019, at the age of 96. The family lived in a sod house in Glenwood Township at the time of his birth and later moved to a farm home in Walnut Township, Phillips County, KS.
As one of the older children, Wayne was often expected to help care for his younger siblings. Everyone learned to work hard on the farm from the youngest to the oldest and little time was allowed for fun. He walked across the fields with his siblings to attend Independence School located four miles south of Woodruff, KS, also called "Pumpkin Hollow," and graduated from the eighth grade. From that time on Wayne was entrusted with the care of livestock at another farm, often working alone for long periods of time.
Wayne worked at various jobs and once ran a cafe/bar in Phillipsburg called "Poor Boy Cafe" with a brother in the 1940's. He met Vera May Biehn in the Franklin, NE, movie theater and they were married on February 28, 1949, and went into farming. They lived their first few years in a small converted school house without electricity or running water. Wanetta, Wanda and Jim were born while living in the small house. Wayne & Vera enjoyed going to dances and playing cards with their neighbors and at family gatherings. He was a loving husband and father and will be sorely missed.
In 1955 Wayne and Vera moved to the family farm where they resided until 1963. Then they moved near Naponee, NE, where Wayne farmed with his uncle Marvin Jackson until 1982. In 1987 they moved to their own farm South of Franklin where they still resided today. The family went through many hard times together and a major tragedy due to a house fire at their farm home South of Franklin. They brought in another house to the same location and continued raising their family. Their children were brought up learning how to work on the farm also. Wayne was well known in the community and enjoyed the respect of his neighbors and friends. He enjoyed a good visit and liked to go to farm auctions where neighbors congregated.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Ollie Jackson; brothers Warren Arthur, Wilbur Jacob, Eugene Denton and Raymond Leroy Jackson; sisters Erma Aileen Wiley and Dorothy Mae Henry; son-in-law Val Reed; three grandsons Nate Graebast, Philip Wayne Webber and Jerry Webber Jr.; in-laws Karen Spaulding and Kristy Loschen.
Wayne is survived by his wife Vera Jackson of Rural Athol, KS; seven children, Wanetta Mae (Gerald) Webber of Colby, KS, Wanda Marie Reed of Wilcox, NE, Jimmy John Jackson of Franklin, NE, Bernice Rose (Don) Iman of Franklin, NE, Jerry Dewayne (Terrie) Jackson of Franklin, NE, Linda Sue Miner of Kearney, NE and Dawn Ann (Hal) Haeker of Alma, NE; two sisters, Goldean Drake of Franklin, NE, Shirley (Lloyd) Tubbs of Long Island, KS; 24 grandchildren and 33 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, August 2, 2019 at All Faiths Funeral Chapel, 113 S. Madison St., Smith Center, KS, with Pastor Kasey Loschen officiating. There will not be a public visitation, the casket will remain closed. Burial will take place in Fairview Cemetery, Phillipsburg, KS. Memorials may be given to the Franklin, NE or Smith Center, KS food pantries and can be sent in care of the funeral chapel.