Obituary for Reverend Dennis Hunt Jackson
Reverend Dennis Hunt Jackson (October 5, 1949 - July 15, 2020).
Lovingly known as “Preacher”, Denny was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the oldest son of Byron and Patricia Jackson, public school educators and life-long Fort Wayne residents. Denny excelled academically and athletically at Snider High School and found his way to Trinity English Lutheran Church, where he heard his calling to the ministry of the Lutheran Church (ELCA). He attended Wittenberg University, where he played on the storied football team and became a brother of Phi Gamma Delta. It was there, at Witt, that he met the love of his life, Gale Greenhagen. On August 29,1970, Denny and Gale married in New Jersey before moving to Fort Wayne. Denny completed a degree in psychology at Indiana Institute of Technology. He and Gale then moved to Waterloo, Ontario, where Denny earned the Master of Divinity degree at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. Denny spent his internship year in Nova Scotia, where he served as Lutheran chaplain at Dalhousie University. It was in Halifax that Denny and Gale welcomed their daughter Keely into their lives. Denny’s first call to ministry came in Butler, IN, during which time their daughter Megan joined their family. Denny’s next call took him to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plymouth, IN. He is remembered as the best cook in the Greater Walkerton Men’s Gourmet Club. After a decade of service at Immanuel, the Jacksons moved to Jasper, IN, where Denny served Redeemer Lutheran Church. In 2000, Denny and Gale moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where Gale served 20 years as director of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts and Denny took calls to interim ministries at local Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. After formally retiring from ministry, he continued to share his warm smile and wit with customers at Town Hardware and as trivia master at the Ale House. He died peacefully at his home from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
In his ministry and through his roles as friend, brother, uncle, father, and husband, Denny witnessed the greatest joys, but also the deepest sorrows and tragedies of others. Many looked to him for guidance, support, compassion, and to simply be heard. He listened, consoled, counseled, and guided countless hearts and minds. Many knew Denny as their best friend, he never met a stranger. There was never a dog or a baby that didn’t love him. He found solace in the outdoors with friends and family as a lifelong sportsman, camper and grill master. He will forever be revered, and remembered by his beloved family, who gave him his greatest joy.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Gale; his daughter, Keely Boomhower, her husband Dan, and their daughters, Eleanor & Greta; his daughter, Megan Alexander, her husband Bob, and their children, Jenna & John Kemper, and Piper & Abraham Alexander; his mother, Patricia Jackson Gardiner; his brother and sister-in-law, Doug & Beth Jackson; his sister, Jennifer Jackson Huffer; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rich & Gunnel Greenhagen; his brother-in-law, Mark Greenhagen; his sister-in-law, Donna Slingsby Greenhagen; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A private service overlooking Black Mountain was held by his family and a larger celebration of his life will be planned in the Summer of 2021.
The family asks that memorial donations in Denny’s honor be made to: Bounty & Soul, 999 Old US Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain, NC 28711 www.bountyandsoul.org and Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State St., Black Mountain, NC 28711 www.BlackMountainArts.org.
Lovingly known as “Preacher”, Denny was born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was the oldest son of Byron and Patricia Jackson, public school educators and life-long Fort Wayne residents. Denny excelled academically and athletically at Snider High School and found his way to Trinity English Lutheran Church, where he heard his calling to the ministry of the Lutheran Church (ELCA). He attended Wittenberg University, where he played on the storied football team and became a brother of Phi Gamma Delta. It was there, at Witt, that he met the love of his life, Gale Greenhagen. On August 29,1970, Denny and Gale married in New Jersey before moving to Fort Wayne. Denny completed a degree in psychology at Indiana Institute of Technology. He and Gale then moved to Waterloo, Ontario, where Denny earned the Master of Divinity degree at Waterloo Lutheran Seminary. Denny spent his internship year in Nova Scotia, where he served as Lutheran chaplain at Dalhousie University. It was in Halifax that Denny and Gale welcomed their daughter Keely into their lives. Denny’s first call to ministry came in Butler, IN, during which time their daughter Megan joined their family. Denny’s next call took him to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Plymouth, IN. He is remembered as the best cook in the Greater Walkerton Men’s Gourmet Club. After a decade of service at Immanuel, the Jacksons moved to Jasper, IN, where Denny served Redeemer Lutheran Church. In 2000, Denny and Gale moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina, where Gale served 20 years as director of the Black Mountain Center for the Arts and Denny took calls to interim ministries at local Presbyterian and Episcopal churches. After formally retiring from ministry, he continued to share his warm smile and wit with customers at Town Hardware and as trivia master at the Ale House. He died peacefully at his home from complications of Parkinson’s Disease.
In his ministry and through his roles as friend, brother, uncle, father, and husband, Denny witnessed the greatest joys, but also the deepest sorrows and tragedies of others. Many looked to him for guidance, support, compassion, and to simply be heard. He listened, consoled, counseled, and guided countless hearts and minds. Many knew Denny as their best friend, he never met a stranger. There was never a dog or a baby that didn’t love him. He found solace in the outdoors with friends and family as a lifelong sportsman, camper and grill master. He will forever be revered, and remembered by his beloved family, who gave him his greatest joy.
He is survived by his wife and best friend, Gale; his daughter, Keely Boomhower, her husband Dan, and their daughters, Eleanor & Greta; his daughter, Megan Alexander, her husband Bob, and their children, Jenna & John Kemper, and Piper & Abraham Alexander; his mother, Patricia Jackson Gardiner; his brother and sister-in-law, Doug & Beth Jackson; his sister, Jennifer Jackson Huffer; his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Rich & Gunnel Greenhagen; his brother-in-law, Mark Greenhagen; his sister-in-law, Donna Slingsby Greenhagen; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.
A private service overlooking Black Mountain was held by his family and a larger celebration of his life will be planned in the Summer of 2021.
The family asks that memorial donations in Denny’s honor be made to: Bounty & Soul, 999 Old US Hwy 70 W, Black Mountain, NC 28711 www.bountyandsoul.org and Black Mountain Center for the Arts, 225 West State St., Black Mountain, NC 28711 www.BlackMountainArts.org.