Jacqueline R. Jordan

Jacqueline was born April 2, 1935 at Woodlawn Hospital, Chicago, to her parents Clarence and Ruth (Anderson) Wilson. Jacqueline (Jackie) graduated from Morgan Park High School, Chicago, class of June 1953, and the University of Illinois, Champaign/Urbana in June 1957 with a BS degree in Education, and later, a Master’s Degree in Education. She was a member of the Chi Omega sorority in Champaign.

Jackie taught elementary school in West Harvey, Illinois District 147 and one year in the Overseas Teaching Program in the Azores, Portugal, before working the majority of her teaching years in the North Palos School District 117 at the Quin and Glen Oaks schools. She was the administrator for the pilot Reading Lab program started in 1974 at the Quin School, later expanded to the other schools in the district. She served a 2-year term as president of the North Palos Education Association (NPEA), the professional organization in the school district, affiliated with the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and the National Education Association (NEA.)

In the summer of 1963, Bill Jordan, a friend since grammar school, “chased” Jackie to Hawaii, where she was beginning work on her Master’s Degree at the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. He even attended some of her classes with her, warmly welcomed by the professor. Bill and Jackie were married August 8th, 1964 and were soon blessed with a daughter and a son who grew up in Mokena, Illinois. Jackie taught Sunday School and Pre-School at the Palos United Methodist Church with her young children attending her classes.

After retirement Jackie served as a charter member of the Mokena Education Foundation. She also became active in Will County politics, elected as a Republican Precinct Committeeman in Frankfort Township. She was a founding member of United Republican Women (affiliated with Illinois Federation of Republican Women) (IFRW) and National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW) which merged with another south suburban club to form the club United Southland Republican Women—Chicago SW Suburbs. She was a frequent contributor to the Chicago Tribune’s “Voice of the People,” as well as having letters published in the Star and Southtown newspapers.

Jacqueline has always been interested in, and supportive of, her Swedish heritage, being a lifelong member, (as were her grandparents and parents,) of the I.O.S. (Independent Order of Svithiod) lodges on Chicago’s south side, Frithiof #5, Elida/Englewood #54 and then, Centennial #54, as the older lodges were phased out. She is also a member of the Swedish Heritage Society Foundation in Swedesborg, Iowa, and has compiled maternal and paternal family history books.

Jacqueline’s husband Bill died in spring of 2022, and sister Joyce Claire Rajski (Wilson) died in the summer of 2022. She is survived by daughter Kimberly Annette Grieg (David), son William Wright Jordan III (Linda), grandson Brett James Grieg, grandson Christopher David Greig (Alexia), granddaughter Jacqueline Rose Jordan, niece Julie Joyce Rajski, and many dear cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Friends and family will gather for a visitation for Jacqueline that will be held from 10 AM - 12 PM on Tuesday, February 6th, at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 4727 West 103rd Street, Oak Lawn, Illinois 60453 where a funeral service will follow at 12 PM. Interment Oak Hill Cemetery.