Ross Eugene Sackman

It is with great sadness and rejoicing we share that Reverend Ross Eugene Sackman, 97, went to be with his Lord and Savior on April 12, 2026. As a retired Baptist minister, he will be remembered for his deep love of Jesus, his unrelenting pastoral care, and his silly jokes.

Ross is survived by two daughters Annette (David) Franzen of Poulsbo, WA and Jacqueline Flannery of Seattle, WA; granddaughters, Kristan (Kho) Franzen-Tiffany, Rachel and Devon Flannery; and great-grandson, Malakai Tiffany. He is preceded in death by his wife, Jeanne; and siblings, Richard Sackman, Patricia Stenzel, John Sackman and Gloria Sackman-Reed.

Ross was born on August 18, 1928, in Independence, MO, to Everett & Helen Sackman. Ross spent his childhood years growing up in small towns of rural Kansas. His father managed a golf course near Olathe, KS for a number of years and taught his sons to play golf as they helped maintain the fairways. Golf became a favorite shared past time for Ross that lasted his entire life, playing until the year before his death. Ross graduated from high school in Fontana, KS and went on to attend Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Ottawa University, and Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. Ross was ordained into the ministry on June 5, 1955 and held his first pastorate at the Methodist Church of Lane, KS.

As a young minister, Ross preached for rural churches on a visiting basis. While filling the pulpit at Mount Olivet Baptist church near Princeton, KS, he was introduced to his wife-to-be, Jeanne Schweitzer, when invited over for Sunday dinner by her mother following the service. Known throughout the county for her good cooking, it is believed that Mrs. Schweitzer may have had plans for the young, handsome preacher, as Jeanne happened to be home from nurses training that weekend. Ross and Jeanne married the following year, in 1956.

Over the next 50 years, Ross held senior pastorates in the American Baptist denomination: The First Baptist Church, Sabetha, KS; Central Baptist Church, Augusta, KS; Pleasant Valley Baptist Church, Wichita, KS; The Baptist Church, Concordia, KS; First Baptist Church, Loveland, CO; First Baptist Church, Fort Scott, KS; and First Baptist Church, Limon, CO. Jeanne was also very active, working alongside him and supporting his ministry. Ross was known for his interdenominational collaborations and for co-leading Biblical tours of Israel and the surrounding Mediterranean region. 

Ross and Jeanne eventually returned to Loveland where, in his semi-retirement, he became the Associate Pastor of Senior Ministries at Galilee Baptist Church. He never fully retired, but continued as a volunteer minister for local retirement communities and nursing homes, and as a dedicated driver for SAINT Volunteer Transportation Service for shut-ins.

Ross was a strong Christian and expressed his love of Jesus to everyone touching the lives of many, many people through his faith, devotion, and compassion. Some day we will dance together in the streets of glory, singing praise to Jesus as he is doing now!

Local family and friends shared an informal Celebration of Life on Sunday April 19 at Brookdale Montclair, the assisted living facility in Poulsbo, WA where he was living. A formal memorial service and burial will be held with extended family in Kansas in the late summer. Ross will be laid to rest next to his beloved wife, Jeanne, in the Princeton Cemetery near Ottawa, KS.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to India Bible Educational Enterprise, the mission his brother Richard Sackman began and his nephew Eric Sackman now operates.

India Bible Educational Enterprises

PO Box 494374, Garland, TX 75049-4374

Please make checks payable to IBEE. Digital donations are not currently accepted.