Obituary of Joseph Edward Jackson

It is with great sadness the family of Joseph Jackson, aged 81, announces his passing on Monday, April 27, 2020, at the Beacon Heights Retirement Home in Ottawa, Canada. Joseph (Jet Jockey) will be remembered for his sense of humor, intelligence and his devoted and loving approach to life as a husband of 60 years to Norma Jackson (Gunn) from Aberdeen, Scotland, his two sons Rob and Ed, his brother Owen and sisters Barbara and Kay. He will also be fondly remembered by his grandchildren, Derek, Sheldon, Dana, and Chase, and his extended family and friends located near and far. Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Joe graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree after which he joined the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and trained as a pilot. Joe’s RCAF career included flying Harvards, T-33 Silver Stars, F-86 Sabres, CF-5s, CF-104s, and the Boeing 707 in the transport and air refuelling roles. His tours included being a 421 Squadron strike pilot on CF-104s, an Air Force recruiter in Saskatoon, a 434 Squadron pilot on the CF-5 Freedom Fighter, and aircraft captain on the Boeing 707 with 437 Squadron. He also did tours at national Defence Headquarters including aircraft accident investigation with the Directorate of Flight Safety. Upon leaving his Air Force career, Joe had a short stint with Air 2000 before accepting a position with the Aviation Safety Board of Canada as an Aircraft Accident Investigator. He was involved in a few notable aircraft accident investigations during his tenure (Gander, Swiss Air, and Dryden) and finished his illustrious career in 2010. Joe spent his final years suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease. Memorial donations may be made to the Canadian Alzheimer’s Society. Due to the current worldwide pandemic, a celebration of Joe’s life will be held on a date TBA.