Nadine Jackson

Nadine Jean Jackson, of Milan, Illinois, passed away Friday, December 9th, 2022, at 2:55pm, surrounded by family after a short fight with cancer.

Nadine was born on March 9th, 1943, in Muscatine, Iowa to Ada Julia Titus and Lloyd Kendall Jackson. After her parents divorced and her mother remarried, the family moved to Rock Island, Illinois, in 1946 and eventually settled on 44th Avenue in Rock Island, where she attended Edison School from Kindergarten through ninth grade then Rock Island Senior High, graduating in 1961. After graduation, she enrolled at the Cele Whan Beauty Academy in Rock Island, where she graduated and began a career as a beauty operator.

She spoke of the earliest years of her life as the fondest, taking the bus with her dad for visits to see her Grandma Jackson. She enjoyed ice skating in the winters but that’s about it because she most definitely did NOT like driving in the snow. She also took yearly family vacations in Minnesota. Her childhood was spent visiting local spots around town, but she had her favorite memories that she spoke often of like enjoying chili dogs at Harold’s Coney Island, fried chicken at The Dutch Inn, anything at Deb’s Drive In, various root beer stands, dancing at the Col Ballroom, shopping downtown at Woolworth’s and McCabe’s, and collecting S&H green stamps, filling up the books and then going down to the basement to spend them. Powwows at Blackhawk State Park, though, were her favorite memories and she enjoyed them for the rest of her life, traveling to see them whenever they took place near and sometimes far.

She moved to Milan in 1970 with her daughter and lived there for most of her life. One of her favorite things to do was to pack a picnic, grab her kid and head to Lake Canyada or Lake Harrah for a day at the beach sunbathing and just floating in the lake. She loved to read and going to the many festivals around the Quad Cities like the Silvis Country Music Festival, The River Festival, and The Milan Fall Festival just to name a few. She was an avid racing fan, particularly NASCAR, and her favorite driver was Jimmy Johnson. She loved classic country and classic rock and roll music, and she especially enjoyed the music of Conway Twitty and Elvis Presley. Later in life she enjoyed taking drives and sitting in the park reading and feeding the ducks AND SQUIRRELS even though she wasn’t supposed to. She loved breaking the rules sometimes and that’s just one of the things we loved about her. She will be greatly missed.

She had long periods of employment with various local employers from the mid-1960s well into the 2000’s and even part time jobs after she retired.

Seaford Clothing Co.- Mid 60’s to Mid 70’s

Farmall, Local 1309 – Mid 70’s until Plant Closure.

Jaydon 80’s and 90’s

Serv A Lite 90’s

Aramark 90’s to Retirement.

Nadine is survived by her daughter, Angela (Raymond) Castellano, two granddaughters, Brittany (Matthew) French and Stephanie Grams, and seven great-grandchildren, Rebecca, Brayden, Maliana, Elizabeth, Angelo, Gisella, Jackson, as well as a younger sister.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Melissa Ann, her parents, both brothers, and some close friends.

There will be no funeral or services per her wishes, she will be cremated. There will be a gathering and spreading of ashes in spring 2023 at an undisclosed location. Friends and family are welcome to attend. More information will be posted on Facebook.

Family and friends are invited to share memories and express condolences at mvcremation.com on her memory page.