James “Jim” R. Jackson, 75, Columbia City, passed away Saturday evening, Sept. 3, 2016, at Parkview Regional Medical Center.  Born July 14, 1941, in Pittsburgh, Pa., he was the son of A. Ray and Jean (Johnson) Jackson.

By the age of 2, Jim’s family moved to Auburn. Growing up, he enjoyed riding his bike, fishing and boating. He was a pole-vaulter on the Auburn High School track team and graduated with the Class of 1959. Jim went on to receive his Bachelors of Science from Tri-State in 1962. While in college, he started dating his fellow classmate, Janet Aschleman and on Sept. 8, 1962, they were married at Auburn Trinity Lutheran Church. Following their marriage, they moved to St. Louis, Mo. area where he worked for McDonald-Douglas and helped with the engineering on the camera used in space. In 1956, they would move back to Indiana where he was an engineer with Magnavox, working with the sonobuoy for over 40 years and retired from Ultra Electronics, Columbia City, in 2006. In 2000, Jim and Janet moved to Columbia City from Big Long Lake in LaGrange County, where they previously lived for the past 28 years.

Jim had been a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hudson, and Zion Lutheran Church, Columbia City. He had been a skilled woodworker and a member of the Huntertown Woodworking Club. He also was a great mechanic and enjoyed being on the lake with his family, fishing after work, boating and playing his trumpet.  A skilled player, he had played with the Magnavox Band and also at Zion Lutheran Church.

Survivors include his loving wife: Janet Jackson; son: Greg (Jennifer) Jackson, Fort Wayne; daughter: Jill Gamble, Indian Trails, N.C.; and granddaughters: Julia Jackson; Krista Jackson; and Sarah Gamble. He was preceded in death by his parents; and half brother: Frank Jackson.

Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6, at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, Columbia City. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7, at the funeral home with Pastor Phillip Rittner officiating. Burial will follow at Union Township Cemetery.

Memorial donations may be made in Jim’s memory to Zion Lutheran Church.