Dr. Bert Jackson was my uncle. And probably the smartest person I've ever known. Ask yourself: How many people do you know who identify as radiation physicists? The fact that I knew anything at all about that subject was only because my Uncle Bert taught it at the University of Iowa. He wrote two textbooks on the application of radiation using the newly-built radiation machines. This was decades ago, of course, but he was the first to teach medical doctors how to use radiation machines. Both books were dedicated to my grandmother, his mother. I saw one of the books and I couldn't get past the dedication page! As I flipped though the pages, it was all formulas and squiggly writing that I certainly would never understand! No plot, no developed characters, nothing but formulas.

My uncle and I both had German Shepherds. We had that in common and it gave us something to talk about. He also built a pipe organ integrated into the structure of his house in Iowa City. It was an amazing work of craftsmanship as well as a technical achievement in itself. When played, the entire house vibrated a little with each note. I was fascinated with it but was certainly too intimidated to ask to touch a key!

My uncle was rather a sad figure. He lost his eldest daughter, Annetta, when she was just 30. She was a delightful person, full of good humor and got along well with everyone. I like her immensely and enjoyed her company and conversation whenever family reunions and visits brought us together. I don't know the exact cause of her death, but I heard it was an aneurysm. Also, Uncle Bert lost a grandson who was just 27. I know nothing about that circumstance other than he is buried next to Uncle Bert in the Richfield Cemetery. And after his divorce from my Aunt Mary, he never remarried and remained a solitary person for the rest of his life. She was a wonderful person and I was saddened by their parting.

One summer Uncle Bert took his daughters, me, my grandmother, and my stepmother to New York City. It was quite a treat for all of us! We went to an off-Broadway play that one of his students had written. The author had invited Uncle Bert to attend a performance, so nothing would do except for a grand trip to be planned! We had a wonderful time -- I don't think any of us had been to NYC before so it was quite the adventure. It was very kind of him to include me in the trip -- I don't know quite how that happened.

My uncle and grandmother usually spent January in Phoenix. I assumed it was some sort of semester break for Uncle Bert and since he was very close to my grandmother, they rented an apartment together. All three of her sons were very close to her, as was I. She was a very special and unique person and I am most grateful and honored that she was my grandmother. Anyway, I usually found my way to Phoenix during their stay and had a great time playing cards or other board games, hauling around Phoenix in her 1959 Cadillac, and visiting with our relatives who lived in the area. All of that is changed now as everyone who lived there is now gone. Just the memories are left.

No one in my family lives in Kansas anymore either and that is where my part of Jackson family history began. Uncle Bert, my Dad, and Uncle Larry were born in Pratt, Kansas, and then moved to Western Kansas. It's an interesting family history as most family histories are, but there were few characters like my Uncle Bert. I hope you knew him. He was great people.