SPRINGDALE — Christina Elizabeth Jackson,

age 73, passed into eternal life on Sunday, August 22, at the Circle of Life Hospice in Springdale. She was born in Germany in 1948, the daughter of Henry and Marie Ellenberger, both deceased. The family was proud of being nationalized as American citizens, and Christina signed her own citizenship paper. Five Ellenbergers joined the American military after WWII. She is survived by her husband of 51 years, Pastor Gregory L. Jackson, their son, Martin, his children, Josephine, Danielle, and Alexander; her sister, Maria Ellenberger Way, her brother-in-law, Kermit, and children, Kaela Way and Briana Way. The Jacksons lost their daughters, Bethany Joan Marie and Erin Joy Jackson, to an undiagnosed neurological disorder, when the girls were age 6 and 7. Christina is also survived by her husband’s siblings, Homer Jackson Junior, Candace Jackson Pisterzi, Allen Jackson Junior, and their children.

Christina’s l i fe was multi-lingual, learning Hungarian and German from her parents, Spanish, Latin, and Russian in high school, and Greek in college. She received the German award at Central Junior High in South Bend. She was voted into the National Honor Society in her junior year. She majored in German and Greek at Augustana College, Rock Island, Illinois. In Canada, she earned an MA in German at the University of Waterloo and did research for their German department. Christina worked as a research assistant for Dr. John Fassler at the Child Study Center at Yale Medical School. She taught Spanish at Midland Christian School and did research for Technica in Columbus, Ohio.

Christina attended two conferences with Dr. Elizabeth Kuebler-Ross and helped translate during discussions. She contributed to the Kuebler-Ross book, On Children and Death, and learned about the hospice movement early, since Kuebler-Ross was an early exponent. When Christina was very young, she gave her name as “Lutheran Christina.” That is the name of an upcoming book about her, Lutheran Christina, Memories about a Pastor’s Wife. She met her husband Gregory their first day of classes at Augustana College. That evening he told his brother that he met a redhead that he planned to date and probably to marry. She was later outraged by “probably” but that was before he even asked her out. She wore the bridal crown, an Augustana Swedish tradition, at their wedding shortly after college graduation. They went to Waterloo, Ontario, for seminary and graduate school.

She loved to participate as a pastor’s wife in the congregations served by her husband. She visited the elderly, handicapped, and disabled. One neighbor was baptized a Christian before dying. Christina was invaluable as a research assistant in all her husband’s publications. She did research for Angel Joy, about their daughters, and began the work that led to Gems from the Sermons of Martin Luther.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Highland Oncology Group, Washington Regional Center, and Circle of Life. They especially appreciate their neighbor Robert Northcutt and their friend Dottie Hagar for their help, love, and encouragement.

Memorial gifts may be given to the Bethany Lutheran Church’s King James Bible Project, 1104 Letha Drive, Springdale, Ark., 72762. Gifts also be given in Christina’s name to Circle of Life Hospice, 901 Jones Rd., Springdale, Ark., 72762.

Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., followed by a funeral at 10 a.m., Saturday, August 28, conducted by Pastor James Shrader and Zach Engleman at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel, 1591 South 48th Street, Springdale, Ark., 72762: heritageofnwa.com . Interment will be at Elm Springs Cemetery.