Judith Ann Jackson

Judith Ann Jackson, known affectionately to all who loved her as Judy, passed away on March 31, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona. Born on September 22, 1942, in Rockford, Illinois, Judy’s life was a vibrant tapestry woven with adventure, passion, and an insatiable zest for the finer things life has to offer.

Judy was a woman who truly lived the phrase "You Only Live Once" long before it became a widely embraced mantra. Her pursuits and passions spanned continents and experiences, reflecting a soul adventurous and cultured beyond measure. From her early years growing up in Oregon, Illinois, her path took her through Rockford, Illinois, Wausau, Wisconsin, and finally to the warm embrace of Tucson and Oro Valley, Arizona — places where she crafted a life imbued with love, laughter, and legacy.

She was a proud graduate of Oregon High School, before venturing south to Monticello College, a women’s institution in Southern Illinois. There, Judy exhibited her formidable leadership skills as Vice President of the Student Council and earned her degree in Interior Design, a craft she mastered with great elegance and taste. Her keen eye for beauty found expression not only in her career but in every corner of her rich life.

Judy’s professional journey was as multifaceted as she was. She began working as a bank teller and dipped her toes in retail sales, real estate, and travel agencies. It was at Fischers Ethan Allen Store, where she worked as an interior designer, that fate introduced her to the love of her life, Robert “Bob” Jackson. They were united in marriage on November 26, 1983, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rockford, Illinois. Together, they explored the world hand-in-hand, their shared passion for travel carrying them from the wilds of Alaska and the mysteries of Russia to the luminescence of French Polynesia and the vibrant cultures of China, among many breathtaking destinations.

Judy was not just a traveler but a collector — of memories, stories, fine Irish Belleek, Waterford Crystal, Limoge boxes, and elegant clothing and jewelry. She had a house full of cherished dogs and cats, each a testament to her generous heart. Her devotion to community was equally impressive; a deacon at her church in Wausau, a docent at both the Desert Museum in Tucson and the Midway Village Museum in Rockford, her commitment to history and culture was steadfast. She served as Chairman of the Historic Preservation Committee in Rockford and was an active member of various clubs, from the Junior League in Rockford to the Red Hatters in Tucson, and social circles in Wausau, Wisconsin.

Judy’s interests were many and vibrant—interior design, gardening luxuriant with life, sumptuous dinner parties filled with warmth and laughter, shopping expeditions, dancing, and family time that coursed at the heart of her existence. She enjoyed wine, tennis in her younger years, and the fellowship found in the libraries and club committees of Saddlebrooke Country Club. Never one to shy from life’s pleasures, Judy embraced every moment with gusto and grace.

She leaves behind a family who cherished her love and spirit: her beloved husband of 42 years, Robert Jackson; her daughter, Kari Martenson; her sons, Peter Leggero III and his wife Jackie; Ryan Jackson and his wife Jenny; and Deren Jackson and his wife Kaylani. Grandchildren who carried forward her legacy include granddaughters Ashley Gilmore and Keana Jackson, and grandsons Kailer and Cameron Jackson. Judy was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Richard and Margaret Ehnen.

Judy’s departure leaves a profound silence where her radiant energy once blazed. She was a woman who celebrated life with every breath, who gave fully and loved deeply, whose legacy is etched not only in the treasures she amassed but in the hearts she forever touched. Her story is a vivid reminder that a life well-lived is a masterpiece painted with bold strokes of joy, love, and courage. Judy’s journey may have reached its sunset, but her light will forever shimmer in the memories of those who were fortunate to know her.