Marlene Jackson-DeGrande

Anna Marlene Jackson-DeGrande, 88, of Geneseo, passed away Saturday July 1, 2023, at Genesis Medical Center Illini Campus, Silvis.

Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday July 10, 2023, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline.  Visitation will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday July 9, 2023, at the funeral home. The burial will be at Rock Island Memorial Park.  Memorials may be made to First Evangelical Free Church, Moline or the American Diabetes Association.

Marlene was born on June 10, 1935, in Lowry City, Missouri, the daughter of James and Frances (Shephard) Crawford. She married Andrew Perry Jackson on April 12, 1953, in Moline. He preceded her in death in 1994. She later married Gerald DeGrande on March 30, 1996, in Geneseo. She loved playing the violin and she and Gerald started their life together on the dance floor and continued it throughout their marriage. Marlene was employed by the Rock Island School District at Grant Elementary as a reading assistant teacher and as an assistant preschool teacher’s aide. She was the past president for the PTA at Frances Willard School in Rock Island, but her favorite job was raising her children. She loved watching her children grow up and attending all of their activities. Marlene enjoyed fishing and camping in the boundary waters of Canada, traveling to Washington each year and spending winters in Florida. She took up running at the age of 60 with Gerald and ran many races including 3 marathons in Boston, Las Vegas, and Honolulu. They loved hiking and collecting beautiful rocks togethers. She liked being outdoors bird watching, gardening, and tending to her flowers. She loved her collections and decorating her and Gerald’s beautiful home.

Survivors include her husband, Gerald; children, Michael A. (Sally) Jackson, Sr., Rock Island, Desiree (Jimmy) Aidala, Davenport, Mark D. (Jenny) Jackson, Grandview, Washington; stepdaughter, Lisa (Bruce) Ammel, Menominee Falls, Wisconsin.; grandchildren, Michael A. (Jennifer) Jackson, Jr., Scott (Julie) Jackson, Alison (Robert) Kendall, Kimberlee (Jason) Gravert, Lea Jackson, Shane (Chelsea) Aidala, Cody (Tori) Aidala, Joseph (Gabriella) Ammel, Matthew Ammel and Marie Ammel; 15 great grandchildren; brother, James Crawford of Florida.

She had amazing friends throughout her life and at First Methodist Church in Rock Island and First Evangelical Free Church in Moline, and while wintering in Florida with Gerald.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Perry; grandson, Luke Jackson; stepson, John DeGrande and sister, Marilyn O’dell.

Memories may be shared on the tribute wall.