Austin "Aj" Jackson Jr.

Austin (AJ) Jackson Jr. was born in Orlando, Florida, December 18, 1954 to Marzella Jackson and Austin Jackson, Sr. He peacefully left this life on April 14, 2020 at his residence in St. Paul, Minnesota. Austin attended Monmouth Regional High School in Monmouth, New Jersey and worked with his brother, James Jackson and his father in the family lawncare business. Later, Austin traveled to Minnesota to visit his best friend, Joseph Hayes, Jr., where he was attending college and Austin decided to stay and make Minneapolis his new home.

Austin worked for Nico Plating in Minneapolis, Minnesota for several years. He made many special friendships there and those friendships remained even after he changed careers.

Austin learned how to cook by spending many hours in the kitchen with his mom and was one of his passions. He turned that passion in a career; first with Eddie Foster and Eddie’s Original Rib Exstasy in St. Paul, Minnesota and then eventually at Panino’s in Shoreview, Minnesota. Everywhere Austin worked, he wasn’t treated as just an employee, he became part of their family.

Austin also loved being in the outdoors planting flowers and fishing. He would have fished every day of the week, if given the chance. If you had a boat, Austin was ready to go fishing with you.

Austin was preceded in death by his mother, Marzella Jackson, his father, Austin Jackson Sr. (Bud), sisters, Lee Ora Jackson and Clarece Jackson McCloud.

He will be deeply missed by wife, Lisa (Hoselton) Jackson, Falcon Heights, MN, son, Austin Jackson III, Minneapolis, MN, daughters, Marina Jackson, Marshfield WI and Rachel (Jackson) Daniels, Brooklyn Center, MN; four grandchildren, Demar Jackson, Austin Jackson IV, Adrian Jackson, and Alyna Jackson, one brother, James Jackson, Red Bank, New Jersey, three nieces, Kisha, Sharece and Tamika, five nephews, Patrick, Leon, James Jr., Zion and Dionte and many other cousins and friends.

Everyone who crossed Austin’s path became his friend and loved him. He loved his family and especially his grandkids. Austin loved making new friends, hanging out, playing Spades and barbequing for his friends and family. Austin just loved life and living it.

Because of the COVID-19 virus, no funeral or memorial will be held now. Instead, a celebration of life barbeque will be planned sometime this summer, when we can back to a ‘normal’ life again. Everyone is welcome to attend, and the event will be shared via Facebook when a date and location can be determined.

Expressions of sympathy for Austin's family can be left on the funeral home website or can be mailed to the funeral home and will be forwarded to his family. Services Entrusted to Gearhart Anoka Funeral Home 552 East River Road Anoka, MN 55303