CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF

GILBERT R. JACKSON, JR.

1958 – 2025

LIFE TRIBUTE

FOR

GILBERT R. JACKSON, JR.

MARCH 11, 1958                                                                                              OCTOBER 3, 2025

VISITATION

FRIDAY,  OCTOBER 17, 2025

4:00 P.M.

KRAUSE FUNERAL HOME

7001 W. BROWN DEER ROAD

 MILWAUKEE, WI 53223

GILBERT RAYNARDO “NARDY” JACKSON, JR. WAS BORN TO GILBERT JACKSON, SR. AND JOYCE GRAY JACKSON ON MARCH 11, 1958 IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.  HE WAS ONE OF FIVE CHILDREN. GILBERT WAS PREDECEASED BY HIS PARENTS AND ONE SISTER (TOYA JACKSON).

“WHY DID THOSE DAYS EVER HAVE TO GO…” – STEVIE WONDER

GILBERT SPENT MOST OF HIS CHILDHOOD IN CHICAGO. HE ATTENDED BETSY ROSS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND CHICAGO VOCATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL WHERE HE WAS A STARTING PITCHER FOR THE CAVALIERS BASEBALL TEAM. GILBERT THEN TRANSFERRED AND GRADUATED FROM ENGLEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL

GILBERT LATER MOVED TO MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN TO BE CLOSER TO HIS MOTHER WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY RELOCATED. BUOYED BY A DESIRE TO IMPROVE HIS SITUATION, HE SUBSEQUENTLY TOOK BUSINESS COURSES AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY.

“THIS IS NO ORDINARY LOVE…” – SADE

IN 2011, AFTER A BRIEF COURTSHIP, GILBERT MARRIED HIS FOREVER LOVE, ZELLIA CARTER. THE MOMENT HE LAID EYES ON ZELLA HE KNEW SHE WAS THE ONE. HIS PERSISTENCE PAID OFF WHEN HE ASKED FOR HER HAND IN MARRIAGE AND SHE SAID YES.  THE REST IS HISTORY…

IN ADDITION TO THE TWO BEAUTIFUL STEPDAUGHTERS THAT HE HELPED TO RAISE, GILBERT GAINED TWO HANDSOME STEPSONS AFTER HIS MARRIAGE TO ZELLIA. HE ALSO HELPED TO RAISE HIS GRANDNEPHEW, NEQUON YEARS AFTER HIS MOTHER NIKKI’S UNTIMELY DEATH.

“YOU CAN WIN AS LONG AS YOU KEEP YOUR HEAD TO THE SKY…” – SOUNDS OF BLACKNESS

GILBERT ALWAYS SOUGHT TO BETTER HIMSELF SO THAT HE COULD CONTINUE TO BE A POSITIVE ROLE MODEL FOR HIS BROTHERS, NEPHEWS, COUSINS, AND FRIENDS. HE CONSISTENTLY EXPLORED DIFFERENT WAYS OF ACHIEVING FINANCIAL STABILITY.

RECOGNIZING HIS LOVE FOR NUMBERS AND HIS GREAT MATHEMATICAL APTITUDE, GILBERT WORKED IN ACCOUNTING FOR A LOCAL MILWAUKEE HOSPITAL. HE ALSO OWNED REAL ESTATE AND EVENTUALLY RETIRED IN 2023 AFTER SERVING SEVERAL YEARS AS A BUS DRIVER FOR THE MILWAUKEE COUNTY TRANSIT SYSTEM.

“KEEP YOUR SELF-RESPECT, YOUR MANLY PRIDE…” – DONNY HATHAWAY

NOT ONLY WAS GILBERT AN AMAZING BIG BROTHER TO HIS YOUNGER SIBLINGS, HE WAS ALSO A ROLE MODEL TO HIS YOUNGER COUSINS, HIS NEPHEWS AND NIECES, AND HIS STEPCHILDREN. HE WAS THE FAMILY’S ‘MUSCLE’ (PROTECTOR) AND FRIEND.

GILBERT WAS GENEROUS WITH HIS TIME, HIS WISDOM, AND HIS EXPERIENCES; HE WAS ALWAYS WILLING TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.

“MY KIND OF TOWN, CHICAGO IS…” – FRANK SINATRA

ALTHOUGH HE RESIDED IN MILWAUKEE FOR DECADES UNTIL HIS DEATH, CHICAGO WAS ALWAYS NEAR AND DEAR TO GILBERT’S HEART. HE WAS A DIEHARD CHICAGO CUBS AND CHICAGO BEARS FAN. GILBERT’S LOVE OF BASEBALL WAS THE REASON HIS BROTHERS AND COUSINS LOVED THE GAME SO MUCH.

GILBERT LOVED TRAVELING TO AND FROM CHICAGO. AN AVID LOVER OF MUSIC, HE LOVED HANGING OUT WITH HIS COUSINS ZAMON AND ARBRA, ATTENDING CONCERTS, AND DINING OUT WITH HIS WIFE ZELLIA AT PAPPADEAUX’S.

“I KNOW A PLACE, AIN’T NOBODY CRYING, AIN’T NOBODY WORRIED…” – STAPLES SINGERS

GILBERT RAYNARDO JACKSON, JR. TRANSITIONED FROM LIFE TO ETERNAL LIFE AFTER A VALIANT FIGHT ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2025.

HE WAS A GENTLE GIANT, A FIERCE SUPPORTER AND TRUSTED CONFIDANTE. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE ALMIGHTY FOR A LIFE WELL-LIVED.

GILBERT LEAVES HIS LOVE AND LEGACY TO HIS WIFE OF 14 YEARS, ZELLIA JACKSON; TWO STEPSONS; TWO STEPDAUGHTERS; TWO BROTHERS, ORLANDUS JACKSON (NINA) AND QUENTON LITTLETON (CORENE), BOTH OF MILWAUKEE, WI; ONE SISTER, YOLANDA JACKSON OF MILWAUKEE, WI; ONE AUNT DIANE JACKSON; A HOST OF NEPHEWS, NIECES, GRANDNEPHEWS, GRANDNIECES, COUSINS, AND FRIENDS.