Colleen J. Jackson

Colleen J. Jackson passed away June 11, 2021 at The Willows of Arbor Lakes, Maple Grove MN surrounded by family.

Mass and celebration of her life will be held at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Mankato at 10:30am, Tuesday June 29, 2021 with visitation one hour prior. Burial will take place at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at a later date. Please share a memory of Colleen with her family and view her video tribute online at www.mankatomortuary.com. 

Memorial gifts can be directed to The American Cancer Society.

Colleen was born October 31, 1934 to Floyd T. Johnson and Louise (Kane) Johnson in St. Cloud, Minnesota. She graduated from St. Cloud’s Cathedral High School in 1952, attended St. Cloud State College on a Zonta Club scholarship and would later receive a BS degree in Business Administration from Mankato State University.

In November 1953, she married Leon R. Lease in Minneapolis. They moved to Mankato where they raised their family of five children. They later divorced. She married David M. Jackson in June 1981 and they resided in rural River Heights, Mankato until January 2020 when they moved to Maple Grove. David passed away February 1, 2020.

Colleen’s career as a school District Business Manager began in 1976 with School District #78 in Garden City. In 1986, she moved to the St. Peter School District as its Business Manager and in 1993, she became Director of Business Affairs for ISD #917 in Rosemount, MN residing in their second home in Apple Valley during the work week until her retirement in 1999.

She was a long-time member of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Church and then later at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Colleen was a life member of the Minnesota Association of School Business Officials serving on its board for eight years and as President in 1995-96. She served on the board of the Blue Earth County Historical Society and Rapidan Township. She enjoyed time with her family and travel with her husband in the US, Europe, and Central America.

Colleen is survived by three daughters, Cynthia (Rob Totillo) Day of Maple Grove, MN, Jennifer (Greg Buck) Thompson of Mankato, and Kelly (Jerry) Scott of Dacono, CO; two sons, Brent (Michelle) Lease of St. Anthony, MN, and Troy (Rhonda) Lease of   Hastings,  MN; step-daughter,  Amy  Jackson  of  Tucson,  AZ;   ten grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; as well  as  other relatives and life-time friends, including Girl Scout Troop #18 members from St. Cloud. She was preceded in death by her husband, David; her parents; and one brother, Calvin T. Johnson and his wife, Margaret.