Jacqueline Ekstrom

PEORIA HEIGHTS – Daughter, sister, aunt, mother, and grandmother, Jacqueline ("Jackie") S. Ekstrom, 83, of Peoria Heights, Illinois, passed away surrounded by her loved ones on Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Reflections Memory Care in Morton.

To know Mom was to love her. She exuded empathy, and Christ's love to all whom she met. Mom truly lived out Romans 12:15, which says, "Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn." Mom encouraged, listened, and cheered on her family, her friends, and even people she just met.

She was born on December 13, 1942, in Peoria, second cherished daughter of Elmer and Bernadine (Siebel) King. Her family was the most important to her – second only to Jesus – starting with her devotion to her parents and her sister, Judith ("Judie"). Mom loved that her family had affectionate nicknames for each other: her parents called each other "Elm" and "Bern" and they called their daughters "Jude" and "Jack." In her later years, her loyal brother-in-law, Robert ("Bob") Dryden, still called her Jack, which she loved. Being 7 years younger than her beloved sister, Mom first became an Aunt at the young age of 14. It was a role she treasured until her dying day. She loved her nephews and nieces – and later, their children, too. It didn't matter to Mom if you were related to her biologically, through marriage, or through the heart, she celebrated every milestone – birth, marriage, graduation, new job, new pet –

from near or far.

Mom grew up in Peoria Heights, in a very close-knit neighborhood. She stayed in touch with so many of her neighborhood and grade school friends, and in later years, was part of a close-knit group of friends from her younger days who called themselves, "The Golden Girls." Mom attended Richwoods High School, graduating in the class of 1960. After graduating from high school, she worked as a secretary at Wabco (now Komatsu) for several years, which enabled her to buy her very first new car – a red VW Beetle. Mom continued working through the early part of her marriage in 1965 to save money so she could, someday, become a stay at home Mom. Mom worked at Wabco until right before her first daughter, Christine ("Chris") was born.

It was then that Mom started work in her most favorite job – being a stay-at-home Mom for 20 years to Chris, and later, to her second daughter, Julia. Mom was very industrious during those two decades of pouring into her family. Not only did the house sparkle, but she also contributed to the household expenses by doing in-home babysitting, sewing (she made almost all of our clothes, too!), and typing papers for students on an electric typewriter (this was way before computers!). She was active in our school lives (room mother, field trips, helping with Pioneer Girls and 4-H), and volunteered at church to teach in Vacation Bible School and in the church nursery (Mom always loved babies and little children!). Then, in the late 1980s, when life changes happened, Mom went back to work at Komatsu, working as an administrative assistant for 5 years. From there, she worked for 20 years at the Peoria County Health Department, serving the two directors as their admin assistant. It is from there that Mom retired on February 21, 2014, at the age of 71. Mom loved her Health Department family, and treasured the relationships she built there.

But, most importantly, Mom loved Jesus. She accepted Christ while watching a Billy Graham crusade on television in the very early 1960s. After responding to the stirring of the Lord in her heart, Mom poured into the Bible to understand the Lord better. She read her Bible every day (she was an avid reader of the Bible and literature), even during her lowest moments, and was active in Bible studies, Mother's Club, her Sunday School, and even the Grace Presbyterian Christmas choir for several years in the 1990s. She didn't do this to earn salvation, but because she genuinely loved the Lord and wanted to have a relationship with Him and know Him better through reading His Word. Her favorite verse was Proverbs 30:8b: "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread" (she had this Bible verse reference as her license plate for decades). This verse reminded her of all of the times the Lord provided for her physical and emotional needs. She would often tell the story of a time when she needed to make clothes for us for an event, but there wasn't enough money to buy material. She prayed about it, and then had just read that verse in Proverbs in her morning devotion, before going to the mailbox to get the post. Inside the mailbox was a package from a distant relative who had never met us. The package contained just enough pink fabric so Mom could make our dresses. "The Lord always provides just when we need it," Mom would say when telling that story.

Surviving are her daughters, Christine Paluska of Peoria Heights and Julia Ekstrom of Edwards; two grandsons, Samuel and Benjamin Paluska; sister, Judith (Robert) Dryden of Bethany Beach (Michigan); many nieces and nephews, grand nieces and nephews, and honorary grandchildren with whom she loved.

Mom's dearest wish is for all whom she loved – and for you who are reading this – to listen to the call of the Lord and answer Him with an affirmative, "Yes, you are my Lord!" Life is so much easier when the Creator of your soul directs your steps. If you are reading this, she would want you to know how much the Lord loves you, and to think of Matthew 11:28-30 – "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Mom's visitation and funeral will be held on March 13, 2026, at Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria, where Mom was a member for almost 60 years. Her visitation will begin at 10 a.m., her funeral, officiated by Pastor John Hopwood, will start at 11 a.m., and her burial and graveside service will be held at Parkview Cemetery in Peoria after the funeral.

Memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church in Peoria.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Morton is handling arrangements.

To leave an online condolence for the family visit www.knappjohnson.com.