Manuel "Gene" Jackson

Manuel Eugene Jackson, age 73, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 4, 2017, in Aurora Colorado.

Manuel, known to many as "Gene," was born December 5, 1943 in Higginsville, Missouri, to Charles and Kathryn Jackson.

Gene prided himself on hard work. He began his working career as a fabrication, layout, and assemblyman at Pittsburgh Steele, he was a Surveying Crew Rodman for the City of Des Moines, a Draftsman at John Deere, Human Resources and Diversity Manager at UPS, and retired as a manager at UPS in 1999. Very proud to be part of the founding assembled team for The Atlanta Project initiated by President Jimmy Carter, to alleviate poverty in Atlanta.

As an avid sports fan, Gene was a third degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do; he loved tennis, football, basketball, bowling, and track. He was actively involved in the community. To name a few accolades, he was a member of The Aurora Fox Equity Founders Circle; over 30 years as a bowling coach, and an Olympic bowling coach, President Emeritus of 100 Black Men of Denver, an Iowa Blues Hall of Fame Inductee, Greeley Blues Society member, recipient of The Atlanta Blues Society award for lifetime of work in the Blues, recognized as a child prodigy for his drumming talents, he was scouted to attend Juilliard For The Performing Arts, at an early age. He was known for making others laugh, and making others feel good about, and empowering themselves. He was a loving father, husband, brother, uncle cousin, a friend to many, and loved by all. Gene’s greatest joy came from time with his bowling kids and time on his drums.

Gene is survived by his wife Pamela Jean Jackson; children, Lia Lynn Rogers, and LaRae Marie Heath; siblings, Joyce Obregon-Pigford, Gary Jackson, and Brenda Jackson-Cox, grandchildren; Taylar Strother, Cameron Heath, and Sydney Heath; great-grandson, Brandon Wilkins, Jr. as well as a host of loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his son Shannon Dewitt Jackson; brothers, Reverend William Earl Jackson Sr., and Larry Shannon Jackson; parents, Charles Louis Jackson Jr., and Kathyrn Levora Jackson; and Granddaughter, Nia Marie Strother.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m., Monday, September 11, 2017, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, IA.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 12, First Des Moines Assembly of God Church, 2725 Merle Hay Road, Des Moines, IA 50310. Interment will follow at Glendale Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.

Condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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