Jerry Donald Jacka Jr. |
| Posted 2018-10-30 by Pat R |
| Arizona Republic (Phoenix, AZ) Wednesday, December 6, 2017 Arizona Native Jerry Jacka (83) went home to be with the Lord on December 3, 2017. He was a photographer, a police officer, an accordion player, an amateur archeologist, a collector, a loving family man and a man of faith. Born July 29, 1934, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, he was the only child of Jerry A. and Rose J. Jacka. He was raised at Sun-Up Ranch which was homesteaded by his parents around 1930. The Indian ruins and artifacts found around his desert home led to an interest in Native American cultures and their arts. This led to a lifetime of collecting. Of Bohemian ancestry, it seemed natural that his musical talents turned to the accordion. He began to play at four years of age and won many awards through the years. In the 1950s, he recorded with several different square dance bands, including one called the Jerry Jacka Trio. He attended Glendale Union High School and Phoenix College. Interested in photography since high school, that was where his heart lay. He spent every spare moment with a camera in his hand and had a few photos published in Arizona Highways magazine. His early years were spent as a Maricopa County Deputy Sheriff. There, he rose to the rank of Lieutenant in the Identification Department doing crime scene photography, forensics, and fingerprints. He spent the next seven years as a Police Specialist for the Justice Planning Agency. Photography took over at that time. In February of 1974, the entire issue of Arizona Highways magazine featured his photos of prehistoric pottery. Things snowballed after that and he soon went into photography full time. He was recognized for his photos in Arizona Highways, National Geographic and many other publications. His love for Native American cultures led his photography in that direction and he became noted for his work with the people, their homeland, and their art. He was an honest, straight forward, caring man who treasured his family and friends. In 2000, he retired to their old historic ranch on the Mogollon Rim where he lived out the rest of his life. This week, he lost a hard fought battle with Post-Guillain Barre Syndrome and cancer; God took him home to rest. He is survived by Lois, his wife of 64 years; daughter, Cindy Jacka; son and wife, Mike and Kathy Jacka; granddaughter Sally Jacka and husband Chuck Goodman; and grandson and wife, Dan and Kaitlyn Jacka. And a host of extended family and friends. He will be sorely missed. Service: Saturday, December 9, 2017 11:00 AM, Expedition Church 301 South Colcord, Payson, AZ 85541. In lieu of flowers, please donate to: Expedition Church or Focus on the Family, 8605 Explorer Drive, Colorado Springs, CO 80920. See Also: Find A Grave |
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