Henry M. "Mike" Jackson

Henry M. “Mike” Jackson, 71, of Portland, OR was found deceased in his home on July 11, 2025.

He was born on September 1, 1953, in Battle Creek, Michigan to Lyle H. and Janet K. (Melcher) Jackson who soon moved to Westervelt, Illinois where he spent his younger years. He graduated from Shelbyville High School in 1971 and attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He married Laurel Hahn in 1976, and they moved to the Portland, Oregon area where they were later divorced. He worked for the City of Portland as a Firefighter for most of his life. He enjoyed cooking and was often the cook for his fire crew with specialties in seafood. He entered several contests among the fire stations for best chef, winning at least once. During this time, he met and married Kathleen I. L. Hee on August 4, 1990, and she preceded him in death in March of 2020. Besides cooking, Mike’s hobbies included hunting, visiting the coast of the Pacific Northwest, and basketball. He played in numerous basketball leagues in the Pacific Northwest both through the Fire Department and through churches in the area. He even went to open tryouts for the Portland Timbers one year.

He is survived by his sister, Leslie Jackson Hogge (David) of Taylorville; three nephews, Jesse Hogge (friend Ashley) of rural Shelbyville, Patrick Hogge of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Ben Hogge (friend Taylor) of Austin, Texas; an uncle and aunt and several cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathleen; as well as an aunt and uncle.

Visitation will be at Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Shelbyville on Monday, September 22, 2025 from 9:00 -11:00 AM with a Memorial Service following at 11:00.