John M. 'Jackson' Brady

Jackson Brady, 71, of Edwardsburg passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday, December 22, 2024, after battling pancreatic cancer. He was born in Deckerville, MI, and lived in that area until he was 10 years old, when his family relocated to Cassopolis. He graduated from Ross Beatty High School in 1971 and enlisted in the Army.

Jackson was assigned to the 101st Airborne Division on August 18th, 1971, as a 17R Vulcan Crewman. After attending the Vulcan Air Defense training at Ft. Bliss, TX, he left for Ft. Benning, GA, for Basic Airborne training and eventually was stationed at Ft. Campbell, KY, until May 18th, 1973, when he received an Honorable Discharge. During his time at Ft. Campbell, he was assigned to Alpha Battery 1st of the rd Air-Defense Artillery Battalion.

During his active-duty enlistment, he earned the National Defense Service Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the Army Parachutist Medal, and the Expert Marksmanship Medal with the M-16A1. He was promoted to the rank of Specialist E/E4, which was one year sooner than the minimum time in the service retirement for that rank. After his Honorable Discharge from Ft. Campbell, he spent the remainder of his service obligation with the Michigan Army National Guard Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 246th Armor in Dowagiac.

His work career spanned from Brady's Midway Market in his younger days, to being a welder, an assistant with land surveying, and eventually ended up in the RV industry which he retired from the age of 68.

Jackson's favorite things in life were driving his tractor at his farm, planting pumpkins for the kids, ice-fishing with his family and friends, but especially his son. He also loved sitting in his rocker in the barn with is woodstove. Jackson always put family first.

He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Shari, and his 3 children- Natalie (Dave) Snyder, Lauren Brady, and Jackson Brady; 4 grandchildren, Blake, Norah, Rafe, and Reed; his brother Charles Brady; sister Colleen Wenger; sister Marjie (Jerry) Lolmaugh; brother Danny (Tammy) Brady; brother Michael Brady (Marti Carmean); brother-in-law Mark Olsen; brother-in-law Len Schaefer; and many nieces and nephews of several generations. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Betty Brady; sisters Jeanne Schaefer and Sheila Brady; brother Robbie Brady; brother-in-law Dave Wenger.

The family of Jackson Brady is having a visitation at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Jan. 4, with the funeral to follow at 11:00 at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 24832 U.S. 12 East, Edwardsburg. Committal Rites will follow immediately after at Edwardsburg Cemetery, Cemetery Drive. The family will receive relatives and friends for a luncheon at 1:30 PM at the Edwardsburg American Legion, 25751 U.S. 12.

Arrangements are by Paul E. Mayhew Funeral Home, Edwardsburg MI