Richard Raymond Jackan

He is survived by myself, his biological son, Rick, 2 stepsons, Don & Steve Spears, and 1 older sister Janice.

He was born in Marshfield, Wisconsin. He traveled to California by train with his mother when he was 4 years old. His father, and 2 older sisters were already in California. His father’s aunt was friends with Ronald Reagan and the Reagans gave his father a job on Ronald Reagans Malibu Ranch. He eventually became foreman and was foreman for 20 years until his passing. Richard and Michael Reagan were great friends in their younger years. His best friends were Michael Reagan, Vern Griffin, Perry Nelson & Glen Marsden. He graduated high school in 1962.

Richard was into boat racing, car racing and waterskiing. He became a member of the Viscounts, which was a car club. Richard was a very outgoing person and loved to talk to people. He started his career as an engineer right out of high school. He did not go to college but learned the trade by working at it. He was a detail-oriented man and always looked at the big picture. He knew how things worked and was always inventing things.

I must say he was a perfectionist. He had a hand in inventing Crazy Glu and even got a patent on Hide-A Hoop, which was a basketball hoop you could attach to your garage and it folded when you closed the garage door. He sold some but after all garages were changed to roll up doors that dream faded. He always had dreams of things he wanted to invent.

His favorite sports were football and car racing. Whenever there was a Nascar show on he was watching in it. Of course, his favorite football team was Green Bay Packers.

I met him in 1986 and he was so charming. We were married in 1988. It was the 2nd marriage for both of us. He with 1 son and me with 2.

He and Michael Reagan lost contact with one another for many years. They finally found each other again around the time of Ronald Reagan’s passing. We were fortunate enough to be able to go to the funeral and were invited to see the initial launching of the USS Ronald Reagan in San Diego. The captain gave Richard a USS Ronald Reagan baseball cap. He has this cap with him now.

In his final days he was suffering. He no longer is suffering and that gives me some solace.