Joe Jackson, Father Of Michael Jackson, Dead At 89

Joe Jackson, the music manager and father died early Wednesday morning,he was 89.

The Jackson family patriarch had been battling terminal pancreatic cancer and was “not doing well” as of late. On June 21, son Jermaine told the Daily Mail:

“He’s very, very frail, he doesn’t have long. The family needs to be by his bedside — that’s our only intention in his final days.”

Just days later, Jackson appeared to share an emotional tweet hinting at his worsening health struggles. The caption read:

I have seen more sunsets than I have left to see. The sun rises when the time comes and whether you like it or not the sun sets when the time comes. pic.twitter.com/PGcmbulzyC

— Joseph Jackson (@Joe5Jackson) June 24, 2018

On a photo of Jackson, in his trademark hat, silhouetted against sun rays. Members of his family, including his grandson, have since confirmed his death. In a statement, Michael Jackson’s estate said:

“We are deeply saddened by Mr Jackson’s passing and extend our heartfelt condolences to Mrs Katherine Jackson and the family. Joe was a strong man who acknowledged his own imperfections and heroically delivered his sons and daughters from the steel mills of Gary, Indiana to worldwide pop superstardom.”

In an Instagram post, Michael Jackson’s son Prince Michael Jackson wrote:

“Fly free.”

Jackson had suffered poor health in recent years, having a stroke and three heart attacks in 2015 and spending time in hospital the year after. He was separated from his wife Katherine but it is understood she had frequently been at his bedside during his most recent hospital stay. Joe Jackson and his wife had 10 children and were married for 60 years.