In knowing Jackson, we had many laughs and emotional moments together. We shared those crazy, fun experiences that only happen in your college years.
I could list story after story after story of how he was such a special person to so many people, but I’ll keep it brief(ish) with a few reflections from the time we shared.
– Jackson always sought out experiences that challenged him. He leaned into those hard emotional conversations that many 20-somethings shy away from.
– He taught me and so many others to trust themselves, and showed us how to advocate for our feelings and what feels right to us.
– Jackson approached challenges with patience, an open mind, and an ambition to do shit correctly.
– He was a walking definition of resilience — physically, emotionally, academically, and athletically.
– Jackson’s passion for life and his people exuded from him. His deep passion for learning, for athletic feats, for his loved ones, and most importantly, his passion for building a fun and full life.
– He held a refreshingly humble and secure view of himself and his many accomplishments. When someone in his life won, he celebrated like it was his own win. He made sure his people knew how much he cared.
Loving Jackson was a privilege. It was full of laughter, joy and growth. I will forever be grateful that our paths crossed the way they did.
I’ll never forget how Jackson would make sure, even if I was third/fourth/fifth wheeling, I was included and asked engaging questions. That’s just who he is. Jackson is nothing less than kind in all ways. He showed interest in my interests and hyped me up when I dropped out. He wished me luck. I’ll never forget that.
The best Halloween party I’ve been to. The best we’ve thrown. This was our pregame to the real party and the pregame was most fun <3 I love you always jackson
On a family vacation to Mexico the entire family was having dinner, the kids and and parents were each separated, on the kids side we were talking about how us 5 would make a house together. Jackson would be outdoor expert, my brother the architect, at this point I was 11, I was pretty quiet and I had no idea what I want to do in my life but he still make me feel involved in the conversation and we thought about what I would bring to the Bokenkamp-Scott house.
The same night it was the first I had seen him in a while and I noticed the mustache, “I like the mustache” I said “yeah I’m trying to bring it back” he said. Whether he made it popular again or not it’s a Jackson staple.
I remember Jackson and Ella playing in the leaves of their grandparents house and Jackson laid there with his eyes closed taking in the pure joy of the moment
From the day Jackson was born I felt so much love in my heart. He was such a cute, sweet and cuddly baby. Even as a toddler Jackson had a smile, that slowly turned into a giggle and eventually it would become an infectious laugh. I loved Jackson’s sense of humor. We would laugh over something that wasn’t really that funny to anyone else and that just made us laugh that much harder.
I remember Jackson and his sister Ella playing in the leaves in the front yard as Grandpa and I raked and made piles. Jackson laid there with his eyes closed taking in the pure joy of the moment.
Jackson loved being outside, regardless if he was playing on the sandy beaches of California or building a snowman or a snow fort in the cold winter of Nebraska. Jackson also loved Nebraska football the same as his dad and we would cheer them on, and cheer we did. If we lost he always said, “well there is always next year.”
Jackson loved the holidays from New Years to the following Christmas and everything in between. Aunt Cathy and Uncle Jamie hosted Thanksgiving and we would all participate in the Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot Race in Denver every year. Jackson ran in the race regardless if the weather was warm and sunny or cold and snowy.
Jackson also loved Christmas and he always made a game out of guessing before the gift was even opened that it was a white box (this usually indicated some sort of clothing) and his younger cousins would follow suit. Sometimes we would wear ugly sweaters and other times Christmas pajama’s and Jack always joined in with a sense of joy.
We celebrated the 4th of July shooting off fireworks in our neighborhood. Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and both sets of grandparents were there and Grandpa Scott would aways bring a few larger fireworks to shoot off too. When the Country Club fireworks started we would often go there to watch and Jackson was just as comfortable laying on a blanket watching the fireworks with wonder, as he was laying on that pile of leaves with pure joy on his face.
When Jackson was a freshman and left for college in Oregon I called him and asked him how he was doing. I asked him about his friends he was making and Jackson told me, “Grandma I pick my friends carefully.” I knew some of his friends in Kearney and I knew this was true. I then had the pleasure of going to Oregon for Jackson’s college graduation and I met many of his Oregon friends and I realized that Jackson really did choose his friends carefully, as they were as great as his friends in Kearney. It was nice to know that Jackson really did pick his friends carefully. I knew that if you called yourself his friend, he chose you because he really cared for you. He was blessed to have so many true friends.
Jackson loved his parents, and sister Ella with a love that he was never afraid to show. He loved his grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins and even his friends and you knew he did because he told you he did.
Some may wonder what Jackson would have done or accomplished in the future because his future was so bright. But I don’t wonder, because Jackson would have done what he always did. He would love his family, choose his friends wisely and be a good friend, he would work hard, be honest, he would be kind and humble to others. And, he would look at the world like the little boy laying on the pile of leaves in his grandparents yard, closing eyes and seeing the world with pure joy and a sense of wonder.
Jackson, I loved you yesterday, I love you today and I will love you forever.
Jackson was one of the few people who could truly cheer me up in any instance. He had a talent for finding ways to make people laugh, taking away the gravity of life, and bringing light to any situation.
He made an immense effort to remember milestones and traditions that were important to you. On the first of every month, we texted each other rabbit rabbit. It was a separate tradition that both of us had done in our childhoods, and when we learned that we had both grown up doing it it became something between the 2 of us too. He always felt like a piece of home that came with me (especially since we were both midwestern boys). Hr also made sure to text all of our friends wishing them luck on interviews, on their first days of work, anything that was important to them was important to him.
He always managed to surprise me, like when he randomly knew all the lyrics to the first song in Hamilton the musical, or when we both were listening to the Indiana Jones soundtrack in studio one day without talking about it.
Something that I’ve thought about often is one day in studio when he randomly laid a breadth of knowledge regarding 1940s Bebop music. Something that I had never even heard of, Jackson taught me the phrase “Salt Peanut.” A rhythmic phrase in a song that was repeated over again. We thought it was so hilarious and we died laughing. For weeks we greeted each other with “Salt peanut, salt peanut,” and every time one of us needed a pick me up, the other was there to say those words and immediately bring the other out of it.
Those simple efforts made Jackson one of a kind in my life. He was an incredibly thoughtful friend who always put a smile on my face. I’ll always think of him when I hear the Hamilton sound track, watch an old classic movie, and even just see a peanut. He was an amazing person and I will miss him very much.
Jackson and I met a few years ago during one of our first landscape architecture studios. I remember a mutual friend suggested that I switch desks and come and sit at the desk between her and Jackson, and I said I couldn’t because I’m way too loud and Jackson would never know a moment of quiet again. He just laughed. I think about this memory because I don’t think either of us could’ve imagined then how close we would become. A few weeks into this studio he began to help me with grading math, which I famously hated doing, and I remember how much it meant to me that he took the time to sit with me and explain it. Slowly a few of us in the studio started to talk more and form a friend group. Then all six of us went on a trip to a friend’s beach house, and the rest is history.
We were an extremely close knit friend group. There were few days throughout the school year when we didn’t see each other. We spent most of all weekdays on campus going to classes, studying, and working together. On the weekends we would plan small trips like sunrise hikes, or go to each other’s parties. Our schooling was often rigorous and having each other to lean on as support was absolutely a gift. Jackson and I were desk neighbors for two years, so I can truly attest to his dedication to his work. I told him often that I had never met anyone with a work ethic like his, and that I admired this so much about him. It almost became a running joke that he was always pulling a late night in studio, or planning a meeting with someone. Despite the time and energy commitment of his own work, he was always first to often to help me or anyone else if we were struggling. He truly was an integral part of our community, not to mention all the other activities/groups he was involved in on campus.
Jackson became an integral part of my life outside of school as well. At the beginning, I thought he was so quiet and shy and it seemed as though we had no common interests beyond a shared area of study. The truth is that we never did have many common interests, but I learned that didn’t really matter with Jackson. He was a very curious person and asked me a lot about myself and my own interests. In turn, I asked him about his. We developed a friendship that was based on mutual care and understanding towards each other. I would ask him about Huskers games, he would listen to my favorite singer and tell me which songs he liked, and so on and so forth. I remember the first time I went to an Oregon football game, I told him that he would’ve been proud of me because I was getting really into it and screaming the whole game (it was quite out of character for me to enjoy sports). He really appreciated that. I loved watching his face light up when we talked about something he was passionate about. I always told him I loved how much he loved Nebraska, and his family, and his teams. And I meant it. One of my favorite Jackson memories was when I showed up to class one day wearing a pair of red, shiny dansko clogs. Jackson thought they were so cool for whatever reason. At the same time, I was obsessed with a Dutch cartoon character called Miffy, whom he called “Mippy”. When we saw each other after his trip to the Netherlands, he had brought me back a keychain of a tiny pair of “Mippy” wooden clogs. I don’t know that I’ve ever smiled as much as I did then. I felt so seen and loved in that moment. They’re still attached to my purse.
My years at UO were the best of my life so far, and Jackson was a huge part of them. Every year we went as a group on trips to the Oregon coast to celebrate Macie’s birthday. We went to a cabin in the Mt. Hood Forest to celebrate Jackson and I’s December birthdays. We went to football games. We spent halloweekend together, including a group halloween costume where we were all Clue characters. We went on hikes and swam in rivers and the ocean. We played board and video games. We had dinner parties. I feel extremely lucky for the memories we all have together from these years. Jackson took us to meet his boss who had goats, because he knew I would love the goats. I did love the goats a lot and had an excellent time. One time I hosted a “power point” night at my apartment, where we each made a powerpoint on whatever topic we wanted. He made his about Kearney and everything you could do there. This was funny because my topic was “reasons why I really love my friends” and one thing I said about Jackson was that I loved his love for Nebraska. Point proven. Another thing I said about Jackson was that I thought that if something bad happened, like if I was drowning in the ocean or something, I thought he was the kind of person who would try to save me even if it was at great risk to himself. I still believe that’s the type of person he was. Then I fell and broke my entire TV and Jackson laughed for a solid five minutes. It was a great night. Despite always being busy and juggling many responsibilities, Jackson always made time to be with us.
The type of friendship Jackson and I had felt very special, so I felt comfortable telling him things about my life and my past that were reserved for those close to me. I will admit that when I first met him, I assumed he would find me to be too strange, or wouldn’t understand a lot of the things that made me who I am. I was wrong. Jackson showed up to support me in every way he could. Early in our friendship when my dad became very sick, he constantly checked in to see how I was doing. The same went for ongoing mental health struggles I experienced throughout college. He always wanted to be there for me in any way he could. When the final year of school came and we had to pick a topic for our comprehensive project, I had no idea what to do. Jackson was already in contact with people and had potential sites, as was his way. Classic. But he told me that the narrative I needed to share was my own. I knew he was right, and so I did. I sat next to him for the entire multi-term studio, so he saw its progression, but still when I showed him my project for the first time, I saw him tear up just a little bit. That project was extraordinarily meaningful to me, and I would’ve never had the courage or seen the value in sharing my story if it hadn’t been for him. I was so lucky to be known and understood so well. On the flip side, I also watched Jackson’s own personal growth. I admired how much he wanted to always become the best version of himself. During the time we knew each other, I saw him leave the shy and quiet teenager behind and grow into an emotionally-mature, strong, outgoing, and empathetic adult.
No one was surprised when Jackson was immediately hired at a firm. I remember thinking that there was no one who deserved it more. I was the first in our friend group to leave Eugene and Jackson helped me move out of my apartment. I knew Jackson was excited and nervous to move to Dallas where he didn’t know many people, but I never worried about him. I knew he would make friends wherever he went, it was just the kind of person he was. I remembered years earlier the first time he came to my apartment where I lived alone, he told me that it was his goal to have his own place like that. When he moved to Dallas, I thought to myself that he had reached it. I was sad to leave my friends and this chapter of life behind, so I would sometimes ponder what all our futures would look like after graduation, as something to look forward to. I thought in a few years we’d all reunite, at Jackson’s wedding and dance together like we did in our college days. Or at an Oregon football game and be those old alumni having too much fun in the stands at Autzen. I thought one day I’d meet his children, decked out in Huskers gear, and not be surprised at all to find he was an amazing father. Even now, I keep the bright future I imagined for him in my thoughts.
It was an honor and a gift to get to share so much of my life with Jackson. I’ll always be grateful for our friend group, for our memories, and for the real and meaningful impact he had on my life. I loved him deeply, and will miss him just the same. My heart is with everyone experiencing this loss.
I met the Bokenkamps when I began babysitting for them around 2015, and I was immediately struck by how friendly, fun, and tight-knit they seemed as a family.
At times, I was ill-equipped to keep up with Jackson (and Ella) athletically or while trying to help with math homework. Instead, we had fun playing board games, doing crafts, and getting up to various hijinx (see attached photos for a typical night, creating a pseudo-nature documentary with an anole and some crickets in the family bathroom)…
One particular occasion shaped my impression of Jackson as a person of character. While Jackson, Ella, and I were playing a game of H-O-R-S-E in the front driveway, Ella attempted to make an impressive shot. Jackson playfully blocked the ball from going into the hoop, a maneuver not listed (to my knowledge) in the actual rules of the game. Ella was, understandably, upset and ran back into the house crying. Without a word — or barely even a quick knowing glance — from the babysitter, Jackson followed his sister into the house.
I followed behind, wondering what kind of sibling drama would unfold. Instead, what I found was one of the most astonishing and heartening interactions I have ever witnessed between two kids. As Ella cried, hunched over just inside her closet, she still managed to coherently expressing her frustration with Jackson’s moment of “sabotage.” Jackson didn’t argue with her or defend his actions. Instead, he listened to her. He apologized without being told. He rubbed her back to comfort her. As the de facto authority in Jon and Kathy’s absence, there was nothing I needed to do. The teaching moment had clearly happened long ago.
At the time, I attributed Jackson’s noteworthy character to his solid upbringing along with Jon and Kathy’s Midwest values. Now, I know that some things simply cannot be taught. Jackson was the type of person who cared and who wanted to make things right. He already knew how to repair the relationship, and soon, when the moment had passed, we were back in the driveway having fun again.
During this unthinkable time, I’m holding this memory in my heart and sending love to Jon, Kathy, Ella, and everyone who knew Jackson.
I recall years ago when Jackson was in grade school, you hosted an event at your home. One of the best things was a wall in Jackson’s room that Jon projected a Spider Man cartoon on to and father and son painted it! Little kids dream I’m sure. No words but holding you all close to my heart
Jackson was an amazing person. He was a great friend to my son Daniel, a good teammate and he always had a smile. My family got the joy of getting to spend time with him on many adventures usually including Daniel Alex and Jack (the three amigos). When Jack moved away Daniel was so sad and when he came home it was as if he never left. I’m adding several photos and one video which was a school project and really shows the creativity of Jack. I also had the joy of coaching Jack and it was so much fun.
I was blessed to have Jackson as a student in my first year teaching preschool at First Lutheran Preschool in Kearney, NE. Jackson was just the sweetest little boy, with the kindest heart, impeccable manners, a smirk of a smile, the cutest singing voice, and endless curiosity. This picture is Jackson’s personal page in our class quote book. Just more proof that from the beginning Jackson was joyful, intelligent, polite and oh so loved.
Jackson went to college at the U of O, which is in my home town. So that meant we got to be his family away from home. He joined us for Easter Brunch every year he was in school and came over to Bend, OR for a couple of ski and play weekends. He was such a sweet, up beat, and warm young man. We loved having him as “part of the family”. He even got lectures from Poppy, just like all the other grandkids.
Susanna Abrahamson · College Roommates with his Mom
I met Jackson the first week of college through my flag football team(which he was the star player of). From the jump he was kind, genuine, respectful, thoughtful, funny and a joy to be around. Every interaction I had with Jackson across the 4 years I knew him, left me thinking about what a great guy he was. I was talking to him a few weeks ago about our jobs after college and like always he was so supportive and helpful and kind to me, giving me advice and words of encouragement. It seemed like he really believed in me as a person which I really appreciate. That’s just who he was. A genuinely amazing, well rounded, kind human being. I will miss him a lot, and my condolences to all his family and loved ones.❤️
I am so extremely glad that I went to both Jackson and Ella’s graduation parties. Both times, I talked with Jackson. Your words about him being intentional- so very true. He walked right up to us and had a conversation like it hadn’t been years since we had seen each other. You should be so proud as parents of the children you raised. Both have spread love in a world that needs it.
