Clayton Morris Jackson

“Keep your skis waxed!” Clayt’s life advice. Be ready for anything.

Clayton Morris Jackson was born in Middleton, WI on August 27, 1934 to Louise (Potratz) Jackson and Ralph. He passed away quietly on April 10, 2025 at age 90. Growing up in Baraboo, WI Clayt was an exceptional athlete from childhood through high school where he helped name the Baraboo Thunderbirds. His love of sports followed him through college at UW-Whitewater where he was inducted to the Whitewater Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.

After college, Clayton taught and coached at a high school level in southwest Wisconsin. While teaching in Monroe he met Janet Erickson who he married in 1959. He earned his Masters degree at UW-Whitewater in 1967 and the following year moved to Menasha where he worked as the Business Manager for the Menasha Joint School System until his retirement in 1994. During his tenure as Business Manager he was an active member of WASBO, served as president for a year and received the first Zastrow Award given by the association.

Clayton was an avid Packers and Badgers fan – wearing appropriate team gear and flying team flags each and every game. He was famous for his remarkably long stories and one of his favorite stories was about his experience attending the Ice Bowl on New Year’s Eve 1967.

After he retired, Clayt and Janet spent 23 winters in Brownsville, TX where they made friends from all over and his trademark ”greenest grass on the block and pretty flowers in the garden” mantra continued. They enjoyed the camaraderie, weather and trips to Mexico every year. He had a bawdy song for every party and would offer to give Stumpf Fiddle lessons to everyone. He was the life of the party! They also enjoyed perfecting their golf games. Clayton subscribed the “Shoot Your Age” philosophy of golf. It was his personal goal to shoot a 75 shot round at age 75 and an 85 shot round at 85. He was proud of his Hole-In-One in 1986 and even more proud of the Hole-In-One he made one month before his 90th birthday.

Clayton is survived by his wife of 66 years Janet. He was very proud of his children Cindy (Joan), Jeff (Fred), Mike (Valerie), Jill (Chris); grandsons Emmett, Colin, Jackson and Eli. He is also survived by siblings Robert Jackson and Mary Kasten, and many loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his mother, Louise; siblings Faye (Roger) Frambs, Don Jackson, Duane (Evelyn) Jackson.

We’ll be having a “Clayty Party” later. We’ll let you know…

One final question from Clayt “How’s your love life?”