Jeffrey O. Sledge

Jeffrey (Jeff) O. Sledge born November 18, 1955, passed away from a cardiac arrest on Saturday January 1, 2022. Jeff was a resident of Springfield Oregon and had lived in Lane County a large part of his life. He was born to Gus and Patricia (Garratt) Sledge at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eugene Oregon on November 18, 1955. He was youngest of 4 children. Jeff grew up on the family farm just outside of Creswell.
Jeff attended the Creswell schools and graduated in 1973.Jeff belonged to the Creswell 4-H Club. He showed his sheep at the lane County 4-H fair several years. He played basketball all four years of high school. The team won 3 district titles and went to state 3 times. Jeff played on the Oregon State Varsity team for 2 years. He graduated from the University of Oregon with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology in 1977.
Jeff worked for the Youth Authority for 30 years. He retired in 2009. He was a member of the Creswell 4-H club and showed his sheep at the Lane County 4-H fair for several years. During the summers, like most young people in the area, he picked beans and did odd jobs for neighbors. He worked for Hollamen's Service Station his senior year.
He started working for the Oregon Youth Authority at Skipworth (now Subu) in 1978. He worked at several different facilities around the state over the next 30 years. He retired from MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility as Director of Operations. He loved riding his motorcycle, working in his garden, reading books, and listening to music. He served as an Elder at the Hope Community Church in Springfield. He was also the church handyman. Jeff was always willing to help regardless of the problem.
Jeff leaves behind his wife Julie Jankowski Sledge and his stepson Trevor Jankowski, his children from a previous marriage to Sandi Radke, Amber Rose Loving (Sledge) and Robert James Sledge, his grandchildren Ella Loving, Olivia and Maci Sledge, his siblings Chris Gardner-Hawk (Sledge) Patrick and David Sledge and his nieces SarahJane Gardner, Hannah Burgess (Sledge), Kristen Sledge, and Kaitlyn Sledge.
Services will be held on January 16, 2022, at Hope Community Church, 205 23rd Street, Springfield at 1:30. In lieu of flowers the family is asking for donation to Hope Community Church.
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Jeffrey (Jeff) O. Sledge, please visit our Tribute Store.