Jacqueline Joy Eikenbary

Jacqueline Joy Eikenbary, 61, of Mason City and Lexington, Kentucky died Wednesday, May 28, 2008 at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.  A Memorial Service in celebration of her life will be held 11:00 AM Saturday at the First Covenant Church, Hwy 18 East and S. Ohio with Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim officiating.  It was Jackies desire that there be no visitation.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or First Covenant Church in her memory.  Jacqueline Joy Eikenbary was born on August 2, 1946 in St. Paul, Minnesota the daughter of William L. and Josephine (Kline) John.  She graduated from Alexander Ramsey High School in 1964 and worked for Coca-Cola in the Twin Cities for a number of years.  She met her future husband at the Como Park Hymn Sing in St. Paul one summer Sunday night in 1968 and she and Doug were married on September 12, 1969.  They spent four years in California while Doug served in the Navy during Vietnam and enjoyed traveling whenever they could have a few days off.  This love of travel continued throughout her married life, as she always enjoyed seeing new places and making new friends.  The last several years she particularly enjoyed working for Dr. Michael Blackmore and building her antique business along with her business partner and dear friend, Cheryl Donahoo.  She will always be remembered for her warm smile, her quick wit, and the quiet servants attitude shared with her family and friends.  Jackie took great joy in sending notes of encouragement and finding ways to make life easier for people in need.  She truly exemplified the Biblical passage found in Proverbs 31:10-31 and leaves this as a legacy to her family and all those who knew her. 
 
Jackie is survived by her husband, Doug of Mason City; three daughters, Amy (Ryan) Eikenbary-Barber of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, Angelyn (John) Lander of Mason City, Abigale Eikenbary of Roseville, Minnesota; her beloved grandchildren, Jack, Anja, Lukas and Peter; mother, Jo John of Lauderdale, Minnesota; sister, Jen (Jim) Fischer of Howard Lake, Minnesota; along with her niece, Jamie Fischer and nephews, Alex Fischer and Brian Lhotka.  She is also survived by several cousins and close friends from childhood, Kathy Lerfald, Esther Fish and Miriam Brown
 
She was preceded in death by her father, Bill John; mother-in-law, Lucille Eikenbary; several aunts, uncles, and her special cousin, Sharon Hoxtell.