POEM
Here I am at the Twilight of my life
I always believed I would live a life until eternity.
Now the later years has proven that I’m a mere mortal,
I have lived a life of curiosity and adventure.
A life that I have been very
Blessed and Fortunate to share as an exceptional woman.
Jackie was born on August 16, 1943, to Harold and Marge Chaddock in Chicago Illinois, where her father was training during World War II. She moved with her family to South Haven Michigan at a very early age (this is where her father grew up). Jackie’s parents and younger brother proceeded her passing. Jackie was married to Tom for 59 years and they adopted and raised two boys.
As Jackie grew up she was excited about having a career teaching elementary school kid what a great world of learning awaited them in their future years, and her responsibility was to prepare them for this wonderful future adventure. Jackie graduated from Holland High School in 1961 before earning a Bachelors and Masters degree in Education from Western Michigan University and along with numerous advanced Science certificate hours in preparation for and during her teaching career. Education was very important to her and her husband. Jackie taught 3rd through 7th grade for 40 years. She was an exceptional teacher who had a way of making learning exciting. Science was her main passion in exploring all the wonders of Mother Nature through Outdoor Schools and/ or looking through a microscope. Due to her husband career, she had the opportunity to teach in Beaverton Oregon for 30 years where all forms of sciences studies were strongly encouraged, because of the local high-tech industry. Jackie would come home many nights and share the wonders of watching another student’s eyes light up when they discovered another wonder of science.
Jackie was an early believer in Women’s Rights, having belonged to the American Business Women Association, Board Member of Oregon Educational Association, Board Member of the Beaverton Education Association and various other science committee. There are many other achievement that I could mention that Jackie participated in, but this letter is a Celebration of Life. A life where 15 exchange students from various European and Asian countries came to her house to share and learn the difference in people life.
POEM
We are at the Twilight of our lives
We always believed we would live a life until eternity, and we will, through the sons and students who she had the honor of teaching.
Now the later years has proven that we are mere mortals.
We have lived a life of curiosity and adventure.
A life that I have been very Blessed and Fortunate to share as (as Tom has said many times) an exceptional woman.
Visitation with the family is from 5:00-7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at Yntema Funeral Home 251 S. State St. Zeeland, MI 49464.
A Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at Community Reformed Church, 10376 Felch St. Zeeland, MI 49464 with Rev. Trent Walker officiating.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution may be made to Jackie’s Scholarship for Career Line Tech center, Automotive Program Graduate. Please make check payable to:
Lakeshore Corvette Club
P.O. Box 8362
Holland MI 49422-8362.
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