LYNDON, Kan. – Richard Dean Jackson, 72, of Lyndon, Kan., passed away Sunday, June 20, 2021, at Midland Hospice Care, Topeka, Kan. He was born Dec. 8, 1948, in Emporia, Kan., the son of Fred A. “Fritz” and Elaine Gladys (Hallowell) Jackson.
Richard graduated from Osage City High School in 1966. After that, he was drafted to the United States Army. Although he was technically a soldier during the Vietnam War, he lucked out and ended up driving trucks through Germany. While in the Army, he obtained some truly epic tattoos, including a devil captioned “Hot Stuff” as well as a USDA Choice Beef stamp that rarely saw the light of day due to its scandalous location.
Richard had worked as a self-employed contractor and carpenter. He always smelled like sawdust, and he was a complete perfectionist. Carpentry continued to be a passion throughout his life, whether he was building his grandchildren a playhouse or helping one of his children with a remodeling project. He also worked at Goodyear Tire and Rubber, Topeka, Kan., where he learned and perfected his many dad jokes, along with less appropriate jokes he saved for those occasions when he wanted his audience to gag or recoil in shock. He was shameless, always laughing at his own jokes harder than anyone else.
He was a member of Overbrook Bible Church, Overbrook, Kan.
Richard is survived by four daughters, Blair (Cory) Falldine, Emporia, Audra (Dan) Lohrbach, Silver Lake, Kan., Tessa (Brandon) Herman, Topeka, and Jetta (Turk) Barbar, of Doha, Qatar; a son, Richard Wade (Meg) Jackson, Topeka; a sister, Janice (Larry) Fager, Reading, Kan.; two brothers, Robert E. Jackson (friend, Jan Ogleby), Osage City, and James L. (Deanna) Jackson, Osage City; nine grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Richard’s friends and family will miss his advice delivered via catchphrase, “You’ve gotta take care of business,” his delicious smoked ribs and chickens, his legendary moustache, his patented dance moves, and his love and support. They might not miss his farts at the dinner table. But, what, did we want him to explode? I guess not!
Funeral service will be 10 a.m. Friday, June 25, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 210 Holliday St., Osage City. Burial will follow at Osage City Cemetery. The family will receive friends 7-8 p.m. Thursday, at VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, Osage City.
Memorial contributions can be made to New Dawn Wellness and Recovery Center, sent in care of VanArsdale Funeral Chapel, 107 N. Sixth St., Osage City, KS 66523. Condolences can be left at vanarsdalefs.com.
