Jackson Graham Bartholow

Jackson Graham Bartholow of Ankeny, IA, age 29, died 6/22/26 as the result of a tragic accident. Jackson was born August 12, 1996, in Des Moines, IA, to parents Amy Thompson (née Cook) and Bruce Bartholow. Mere days later, the family moved to Columbia, MO, so that Jackson’s dad could continue graduate studies at the University of Missouri. Jackson attended Columbia Public Schools, graduating from Douglass High School in 2015. Following his graduation, Jackson set out to learn a skilled trade and build a life of purpose. He traveled to Virginia to live with his uncle, Dylan, where he was introduced to the plumbing trade—and where many memorable adventures were had and stories were made. After literally getting his feet wet in Virginia, he returned to Iowa on June 1, 2018, where he was accepted into the Iowa Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33 Training Center in Des Moines. There, he continued to develop his skills in plumbing and HVAC, steadily shaping his future.

Like so many others, Jackson’s trajectory was altered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought many trade jobs to a halt. Jackson adapted with resilience, taking a position assembling John Deere tractor components for WCI in Des Moines. It was there he met one of his closest friends, Jose. Their friendship quickly grew into a bond forged through shared passions and cemented during countless hunting and fishing trips. Jackson was with Jose when he proudly harvested his very first deer—an experience he cherished deeply—and many more besides. He had a true love for the outdoors, finding peace in the woods, along the rivers, and in the beauty of nature.

In 2023, Jackson discovered a new calling as a garage door installer with WD Doors in Ankeny. It was a profession in which he truly excelled and took great pride. He enjoyed traveling across Iowa and Nebraska, connecting with customers and earning their praise through his hard work and dedication. Jackson often spoke with pride about his work, especially when he was featured in WD’s promotional videos—moments that meant a great deal to him.

Jackson was a lifelong and devoted fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. As a child in the 2000s, Jackson came to expect deep playoff runs and even World Series championships from the red birds and was utterly flummoxed whenever they failed to achieve those heights. This experience of (mostly) winning was tempered via his devotion to his other favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings. Like his dad, his granddad and his Bartholow uncles before him, he learned to endure “the agony of defeat” as a member of Skol Nation (sorry about that, J).

Above all else, the most meaningful part of Jackson’s young adult journey was the life he built with those he loved. He met Vanessa Scott in 2018, who became his partner of eight years and, most recently, his fiancée. Together, they shared a deep bond and were planning a future filled with love and hope, alongside his beloved daughter, Aaliyah, who was the light of his life.

Jackson is survived by his daughter, Aaliyah Schafer (age 9); his fiancé, Vanessa Scott (Ankeny); siblings Samuel and Grace Brotherton (Columbia, MO) and Benjamin Bartholow (Iowa City, IA); his parents, Amy Thompson (née Cook; Columbia, MO), Bruce Bartholow, and Susan O’Neill (Iowa City, IA); grandparents Connie Cook and Joe Jongewaard (Des Moines, IA), Margaret Anderson (Spearfish, SD), Donna Lee Bartholow (Brookings, SD), Bill and Carolyn O’Neill (Iowa City, IA), Robert Cook and Sally Diane (La Quinta, CA), and Richard Brotherton (Warrensburg, MO); uncles Dylan Cook (Norfolk, VA), Earl Bartholow (Sioux Falls, SD) and Steve Bartholow (Oro Valley, AZ); and cousins Kasey Gregory and Emily Cook (Norfolk, VA) and Abigail Bartholow (Medford, OR). Jackson was preceded in death by his granddad, Thomas E. Bartholow (Brookings, SD), his beloved stepfather, Rollin G. Thompson, II (Columbia, MO), and his grandmother, Nel Brotherton (Warrensburg, MO).

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2026, at 10:30 a.m., at Hamilton’s near Highland Memory Gardens Funeral Home, 121 NW 60th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa. Family will greet guests from 8:30 – 10:30 a.m., prior to services at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Aaliyah Schafer Trust, c/o Pearson Bollman Law, 1415 28th Street St #160, West Des Moines, IA 50266.

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