Joanne Jacka

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Joanne French Jacka was born October 20, 1939 in Lincoln, Nebraska. She passed away May 27, 2022 with her daughter and son-in-law by her side. Ms. Jacka grew up in Wyoming and all over the world as her father worked for a US Aid Organization. She lived in Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Pakistan, Jordan, and many other places before coming home to go to college at the University of Arizona. She met her future husband, John Byron Jacka, at the University, they married and had two children, Jeffry and Laurie. They raised their children in Northern Virginia.  Ms. Jacka worked for National Public Radio as a field engineer helping to install satellite dishes all over the country before moving to California and becoming a real estate agent in Cupertino, CA. She loved living by the ocean and helping people find their perfect home. She was an avid reader and loved dogs, even adopting a stray found by the beach who she called "Seadog". She moved to Georgia in 2000 to be near her daughter and two granddaughters. She lived for 20 years in Avondale Estates, GA where she volunteered with Trees Atlanta, and helped every year to plant trees on Arbor Day.  She was fond of her book club and was always looking out for her neighbors. Her interests led to unique presents each Christmas including tree seedlings and hand made wood coasters from a fallen cherry tree, and she wrote poems for her friends and family. She was interested in genealogy and the history of her family. She is survived by her sister Kathi Yenney, her daughter, Laurie Jacka Hawks, her son-in-law, Michael Hawks, her granddaughter Cedar Hawks Hall and her husband Shelby Hall, and her granddaughter Berkeley Hawks. She is preceded in death by her husband, John Jacka, her parents, Anna and Norman French, her sister Nicki Schumacher, and her son, Jeff Jacka. A memorial service will be held at A.S. Turner Funeral Home in Decatur, Tuesday May 31 at 6 pm with visitation at 5 pm.