Dr. Donald Earl Jackson, Sr. of Wichita, Kansas, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.

Dr. Donald E. Jackson, Sr. Tuskegee Air Cadet and veterinarian, was born August 17, 1926, in Kansas City, Kansas. His father, Roy Jackson was an auto mechanic and his mother Viola Mae Jackson was a teacher and later the director of a children's home. He was also the grandson of Edward W. Jackson, Sr. and Delilah Culverson Jackson of Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. Jackson is survived by his six children; Donald Jr., Patrice, Stuart and partner Lenny Strand, Jan-Maeve, Jason and Kristi Wong, and Jocelyn. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Connor, Madison, Jaden, and Karson.  Dr. Jackson is predeceased by his sister Doryce Hodge.  He is also survived by two nephews, Donald and Milton Hodge; and two nieces, Dee Dee and Aleta Hodge.

A celebration of life will be held on Monday, February 26, 2018 at 11:00am at University United Methodist Church, located at 2220 North Yale, Wichita, Kansas, 67220.  His cremated remains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Boy Scouts of America, Quivira Council, www.quivira.org , or Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas, www.begreatwichita.org/Donate .

As a child, Dr. Jackson was surrounded by black role models that inspired him to be a black professional with his own business. An excellent science student, Dr. Jackson graduated from Charles Sumner High School in Kansas City, in 1944, at the height of World War II. He was already enlisted in the Army Reserve Corps and dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot. After Dr. Jackson's basic training, he was sent to Tuskegee and there he was taught by some of the heroic veterans of the 99th Pursuit Squadron. He graduated at the close of the war, in Class 45H, the last group of Tuskegee Airmen trained. In 2007 the Tuskegee Airmen were presented with the Congressional Gold Medal.  Due to the Excess Officer Act, Dr. Jackson was put on extended leave and allowed to attend college.

At Kansas State University, he earned a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree in 1951. To get started, he assisted Dr. George Bronson in his small animal practice in Wichita.  In 1957, Dr. Jackson opened his All Pets Clinic in Wichita, Kansas. This small animal hospital treated cats, dogs and other pets and remained busy until 2001, when he retired at the age of 75, after more than 40 years of service.

In addition to Dr. Jackson's professional achievements, he also was actively involved in the Wichita community. Civic minded and committed to youth, he volunteered countless hours with the Boy Scouts as a Scout Master, as well as, a unit commissioner for the Boy Scouts, judging Eagle Scout applicants.  Dr. Jackson served on the advisory board of Bank IV of Wichita from 1991 to 1996. Dr. Jackson served as president of the Sedgwick County Veterinary Medical Association, as well as serving many years on various committees for KVMA. His dedication earned him a KVMA Lifetime Service Award in 2001. Dr. Jackson received the Urban League of Wichita, Inc. Founders Award in 2004.  In 2012 he received The Pride Award from Real Men, Real Heroes for his courage and commitment to his country, his outstanding community service and for inspiring today's youth and future generations.  He was also active in the Oz Bicycle Club, Boys and Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas, volunteer at Gordon Parks Academy K-1st, Kansas Sentencing Commission, University United Methodist Church, Kappa Alpha Psi Wichita, Boule Wichita, and a past president of the Foreign Relations Committee in Wichita. He was an avid cross-country skier, horseback rider, and sailor.

Dr. Jackson truly enjoyed the process of learning, and spent his free time taking classes at Wichita State University. He especially liked math classes, but has taken classes in meteorology, history, geography, economics and astronomy. He also tutored students in Algebra I in the Wichita public school system.

Dr. Jackson applied the problem-solving philosophies he learned in veterinary medicine to all areas of his life. "The veterinary process is applicable both in the treatment of animals and in solving life's problems", and that's the way he lived his life.