CEDAR – Jabe Cook Jackson, Jr., 82, of Cedar, Michigan, was released to the power home above from his forest sanctuary on Schomberg Rd. under the care of his daughter, Marianne, son, Nick, and granddaughter, Marlen. Jabe’s parents were Jabe Sr., and Grace Obera Goodwin, who moved to Michigan from rural Alabama during the Depression for the promise of middle-class prosperity in Detroit’s automotive industry. After World War II, the family of 10 built a home in Kingsley, establishing Jabe’s lifelong connection to northern Michigan.

Jabe was a charismatic iconoclast: a teenager in Detroit, and then in the U.S. Army, he was often in conflict with norms and hierarchies. Discharged from service, he blazed through the western U.S. He became a permanent resident of northern Michigan in 1969, when he met the love of his life, Margaret Rajkovich (d. 1994), daughter of former Traverse City mayor, Nick Rajkovich. They were married for 24 years.

Jabe was a talented artist and craftsman. He spent many years as a journeyman pipeline welder from Texas to Alaska. His creative vision and skill led him to metal sculpture and his creations spent time in the White House, a presidential library, and galleries from coast to coast.

Those who knew Jabe, or met him just once, remember him as the unfiltered loquacious life of the party. His counted genuine friendships throughout the county: Peshawbestown, farmsteads, workshops, and among Leelanau gentry. He was a good neighbor, helpful, caring, generous with his time, his garden, and venison. He’d tow your pickup truck to town if he couldn’t find the reason why it wouldn’t start, and he’d sure shovel you out of the snow. Jabe claims he invented the expression “take it easy”, but rarely did he take his own advice. He loved music, sang and danced joyously, and had a deep respect for the power and glory of nature.

Nine-mile skid on a ten-mile ride Hot as a pistol, but cool inside Jabe’s memorial service will be at his home, time and date TBD.

No flowers or donations, please - Jabe would disapprove.

Please share condolences and memories with the family at www.martinson.info Arrangements are with the Martinson Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Leelanau.