Margaret E. Jackson

Margaret E. Jackson, age 93, of Wisconsin Rapids passed away Saturday, May 13, 2023 at Wisconsin Rapids Health Services.

Funeral services will be at 12:00 P.M. on Friday, May 19, 2023 at Herman-Taylor Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids.  Rev. Peter Plagenz will officiate.  Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 10:00 A.M. until the time of services on Friday at the funeral home.

Margaret was born June 1, 1929 in Wisconsin Rapids to Adolph and Mabel (Kehl) Dernbach.  She was raised in Wisconsin Rapids with her brother Robert and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1947.

Margaret went on to become a Registered Nurse, graduating from St. Francis School of Nursing in Freeport, Illinois.  She obtained her RN status in the State of Illinois on December 15, 1950 and in Wisconsin on April 6, 1951.

She met Martin Jackson while working as an Industrial Nurse at Consolidated Papers Inc. in Wisconsin Rapids.  Martin seemed to have a lot of splinters and slivers which would end up in a trip to the nurse’s station to be treated by his favorite RN.  They married on May 19, 1956 at St. Paul’s Ev. Lutheran Church in Wisconsin Rapids.  Soon afterward, they would build their home on a large wooded spot in the Town of Seneca on County Road Q.  Lumber was taken from their land and milled and turned into their forever home.  Eventually, they would add two daughters, Kris Ellen and Dawn Annette.

Margaret loved caring for her family that included a number of pets: dogs, cats, horses, and occasionally animals brought in from outside to nurse back to health.  It was not unusual to see her with newborn kittens, feeding them with an eyedropper.  She had an eye for beauty and could take the smallest of treasures from the woods to decorate their home.  Margaret also liked to shop.  She enjoyed looking for clothes, shoes, and especially purses.  Later in life, she didn’t miss a Senior Day at Shopko.

Over the years, Margaret was employed as a nurse at Riverview Hospital, Consolidated Papers, and Family Heritage Nursing Home as well as a private duty nurse.

After her second retirement from Family Heritage she found happiness traveling with Marty in their 5th wheel camper.  They saw the mountains out West and made trips to Branson, MO making great memories.  She and Marty made trips to Canada to fish for walleye, most often with Jim and Jeanne Jackson.  She was a good sport over miles of rough lake water to get to just the right spot.  She would put on her big rain gear and spend all day in order to catch their limit.  Marty and Margaret also loved time spent with John and Guen Chadwick going on Jay Buckley baseball tours.  In many stadiums, she put her fear of heights aside, and braved the steps to the upper deck.

Most of all, Margaret loved her husband and family.  She was kind and generous, always thinking of ways to show that love.  Eventually, she made sure all the grandkids had the latest Beanie Baby to add to the collections she started for them.  She loved watching her children and grandchildren show in horse shows.  Although cooking was not her favorite thing, she made a great apple pie.

In her last years, she found a love of reading and her family kept her supplied with plenty of large print books.  She enjoyed a good bowl of ice cream and a Shamrock Shake.

Margaret is survived by her loving husband Martin Jackson; daughters Kris (Michael) Cichocki and Dawn (Mark) Lamb; grandchildren: Kate Cichocki (special friend Josh Gorst), Rachel (Clint) Jepson, and Lauren (Scott) Eberhardt; step granddaughter, Amy Preiser (special friend Jim Grinwald); great-grandchildren: Gabriel and Ariel Kohlman, Cooper, Paisley and Carter Jepson, Owen Seifert, and Molly Margaret Eberhardt; and nephews: John (Kathy Yorkievitz) Dernbach, Dr. Paul (Mary Jo) Dernbach, and Robert Jr. (Jeanne) Dernbach.  She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Robert Dernbach.

Special thanks to the staff at Wisconsin Rapids Health Services, especially Brigette, Joyce, Sandy, Sue and Karen; and Heartland/Promedica Hospice for the exceptional care Margaret received.

Herman-Taylor Funeral Home is honored to be assisting the family.

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