Linnea Ann Jackson, beloved wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend passed away on December 11, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida following a nearly 5-year battle with ovarian cancer. By her side was her husband, Wolfe. Linnea was a 24-year resident of Jacksonville and formerly a resident of Madison Heights, Michigan.
Following her Catholic education at St. Dennis school (Royal Oak) and Bishop Foley High School (Madison Heights) in Michigan, Linnea attended Central Michigan University. During her undergraduate years, she joined Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and spent a year as chapter President. Before starting graduate school, she spent a year as a National Field Representative for Tri Sigma, travelling the country from chapter to chapter. She then earned her master’s degree from Wayne State University and began her career as a Speech Language Pathologist at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. During her career she also worked at Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital in Jacksonville in both inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, as well as in both the Saint Johns and Duval county school districts.
Linnea’s true love was raising her three daughters, Lorea (21), Brooke (19), and Alli (14). She loved going on any adventure with her family. With them, she loved to do everything from a big vacation to a small Sunday afternoon drive. She also never missed one of her children’s sporting events, musical concerts, dance recitals, theater productions or any other important event. She was their number one fan.
Linnea especially enjoyed summer visits to a cottage on Houghton Lake in Michigan where her parents spent their summers. Linnea’s favorite times were spent exploring her beloved home state of Michigan with her husband and daughters and visiting her Michigan family and friends.
Linnea had deep friendships with many people, from kindergarten classmates to parents on her daughter’s sports team, and everywhere in between. As a friend, Linnea was incredibly easy to love and everything you could want in a friend. Her friends have described her as kind, fun-loving, smart, grounded, funny, compassionate, wise, loyal, adventurous, and authentic.
Finally, Linnea was a warrior to the end through her battle with cancer. Those who knew her best could not imagine it any other way.
She is predeceased by her mother, Barbara Schwager of Royal Oak, Michigan, and her uncle, John Bonino of Naperville, Illinois. Surviving are her loving husband of 24 years, Wolfe Jackson; daughters, Lorea, Brooke and Alli Jackson; father, James (Janet) Bankey; father, Ralph Schwager.
In lieu of flowers, the family is asking for donations to the two charities that have meant so much to them over the past five years: The Ovarian Cancer Research Alliance and Inheritance of Hope.
There will be two memorial services for Linnea, one in Florida and one in Michigan.
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