Margaret Louise Jackson

Margaret Louise Jackson, always known as Louise, died from Alzheimer’s disease Jan. 28, 2011, at Northern Comfort Assisted Living facility in Wasilla surrounded by many of her sons.

A Rosary is at St. Michael Church in Palmer at 7 p.m., Feb. 1, with a visitation for family and friends scheduled there one hour prior. A Mass of Christian Burial is at 6 p.m., Feb. 2, at St. Michael Church. Funeral services will conclude at the church.

Born and raised in Washington, Louise developed a love of music early in life mentored by her mother, Mary Hysom, an accomplished concert pianist. She fostered that love by becoming an outstanding vocalist, which continued throughout her life.

After graduating from college, Louise moved to Alaska in 1955 and worked for Alaska Railroad and Alaska State Bank. During her tenure at the bank, she met and later married the late Warren Jackson. Their 28 years together yielded seven sons, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, James, Paul and Peter. While raising their seven sons, life was filled with a multitude of activities including various sports, church and Scouting events. Over the years, countless hours of volunteer work was dedicated to the Scouting program. As a result, she was recognized as a recipient of the Silver Beaver award from the Boy Scouts of America and the Bronze Pelican award from the Catholic Commission on Scouting.

While many people thought Louise’s greatest legacy was her seven sons, the boys believe her true legacy was an extraordinary commitment of dedicated and selfless service to her family and an unshakable faith and commitment to God. When life handed her the twists and turns associated with raising seven sons, she always found solace and reassurance in her faith and always demonstrated unconditional love. As a 50-year member of St. Anthony’s Catholic parish, she spent all of those years in the choir.

Because music was such a large part of Louise’s life, she reveled at the opportunity to participate in the papal choir when Pope John Paul came to Anchorage and joined the choir when they were invited by the Pope to sing at the Vatican. For 25 years, Louise participated in the annual St. Patrick’s Day and Oktoberfest productions at St. Patrick’s Parish in Muldoon.

Like many Alaska pioneers, Louise’s life was accentuated by many adventurous activities. These included bison hunting, dip netting on the Kenai River, being launched in the bungee chair at the Alaska State Fair, snowmachining and continuing to tube behind the boat at Nancy Lake, all after the age of 70. Countless weekends were spent at the rustic family cabin on Nancy Lake engaged in endless summertime activities, generally while enjoying a favorite libation.

In 1961, tragedy at the lake was averted when she, Warren, her mother-in-law and three of the boys survived the boat capsizing.

She went on to give birth to four additional children and became the ruling matriarch of an all-male household. Quick to nurture a loving and caring home she was frequently found at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee in hand providing wise counsel and leading as the consummate example of selfless love.

Travel highlights in Louise’s life included destinations of Rome, the Holy Land in Jerusalem, Germany to see “The Passion” play in Oberammergau, London, and a spiritual pilgrimage to Medjugorje. She especially loved spending time with family and friends at the family’s condominium in Maui.

Louise is survived by her seven sons, their spouses and children; John and Linda (Bradley), Mark and Sarah (Ryan, Joshua and Daniel), Matthew (Bryana and Britney), Luke and Sandy (Hudson), Jimmy, Paul and Suzanne (Mandee, Tanar, Dylan and Rylee) and Peter and Danielle (Ashley, Travis, Taylor and Ian).

She was preceded in death by her husband, Warren; mother, Mary Hysom; father, Vernon Hopkins; and stepfather, Elbert Kunz.

The family was cared for by Valley Funeral Home and Crematory Wasilla.