Frank Victory Exline Jackson, age 77, of Indianola, Iowa passed away on December 8 ^th , 2022. He was born on January 13 ^th , 1945, in Des Moines, Iowa to George Jackson Sr. and Florence Exline. He grew up on the east side of Des Moines in a one-bedroom farmhouse with many siblings most of his young life.

He graduated from Johnston High School in 1963 where he thew shotput and played football. After high school he decided to join the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army from June 1963 to June 1965. He wanted to jump out of airplanes and helicopters just for fun and had a total of 62 jumps during his time in the 82nd. His last ten months in the Army were served in Vietnam. He was discharged in June of 1966.

He married Linda Sue Cotter July 9, 1966, and they bought their first home on Lay Street on the east side of Des Moines. He and Linda had two daughters and raised their children over the years between Indianola, Iowa, Buena Park and La Palma, California.

Frank worked as a pipefitter for 30 years. It was very physically demanding work that required him to work out of town and kept him away from his family during the week for many years. He bought a fifth wheel and a truck so he could take his family with him during the summer months when he worked out of town. He retired from the pipefitting trade and worked for the Indianola Community School District for 10 years doing maintenance until he finally retired for the last time.

During his retirement, Frank loved taking care of their five-acre property next to the balloon field. He loved being outside riding his Grasshopper lawn mower, spraying the fruit trees, tinkering in the garage. He loved watching sports on TV, namely boxing and football; his favorite teams were the Oklahoma Sooners and the Miami Dolphins. He loved many fur babies over the years, his dogs were very special to him. He had the biggest sense of humor and loved sarcasm. If you wanted to hear a good story or a great joke, Frank had plenty of them to share.

He is preceded in life by his grandparents, parents, sisters Julia Thomas, Margaret (Mike) O'Brien, brothers Howard Jackson, Rupert (Diane) Jackson and brothers-in-laws Ira Thomas and Michael O'Brien. Frank is survived by his loving wife, Linda of 56 years, his daughters Melinda (Quincy) Snell, and Darla (Chris) Freshly. Grandchildren Ryan Chapman, Courtney (Robert) Sosa Waddell, Aidan Freshly, Aubree Freshly, and great grandchildren Bridget, Piper, and Robbie Waddell. He is also survived by his siblings George (Marilyn) Jackson, Michael (Trudy) Jackson, Thalia Thomas, and Robert (Trudy) Jackson, many nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews.

He left this world a better place and we were all honored to have known and loved him well.

Services for Frank will be held 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 16, 2022 at Overton Funeral Home in Indianola.  Visitation will be held 4 to 7 p.m., Thursday, December 15 at Overton Funeral Home.  Inurnment will be held at 12:30 p.m. Monday, December 19, 2022 in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery.  Memorials may be given the American Legion Post # 165, in his name.