Benjamin David Jackson, 20, was killed in a motorcycle accident on April 13, 2018, in Misawa, Japan.

Ben was born June 1, 1997, in Chesapeake, VA, and grew up in New Glarus, WI. He graduated from New Glarus High School in 2016. Ben participated in several sports, including cross country, baseball and golf. He loved snowboarding with his brother and friends.

Ben enlisted in the Delayed Entry Program for the US Air Force prior to his senior year, and left for Basic Military Training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, TX, in September 2016. Upon graduation, he attended Technical School for Aerospace Propulsion at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX, and was assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing, relocating to Misawa Air Base, Japan, in February 2017.

He is being escorted home from Japan by his friend, A1C Evan Cameron, USAF.

Ben will always be remembered as a quiet kid with a huge heart and a smile that brought joy to your soul. He changed those around him for the better and was loved beyond what he could comprehend.

He is survived by his parents, Larry and Jen; sister, Emma; brother, Matthew; his grandfather, Jack Spierings; grandmother, Rachel Jackson; and a multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and other family.

He was preceded in death by his grandfather, David Salisbury Jackson; and grandmother, Carol Jean Spierings.

Date and time for the visitation and funeral are still pending, but services will be held at St. Francis Catholic Church in Belleville, WI. Visitation and funeral arrangements will be posted to http://www.bealfuneralhomes.com once they are available.

The Zentner-Beal Funeral Home of New Glarus is assisting the family.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Benjamin Jackson Memorial Fund.