Joe Jackson laid to rest at private funeral service

Joe Jackson has been laid to rest in a private funeral service in California. Photo / AP

Janet Jackson and mourning loved ones gathered today to farewell Joe Jackson in a private funeral service in California.

The patriarch of the American musical dynasty passed away last Wednesday at 89 following his recent battle with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

His private memorial service was held at Forest Lawn in Glendale. His son and King of Pop Michael Jackson was laid to rest at the memorial park back in 2009.

The family announced a public ceremony in Los Angeles would also be held in honour of the late musical manager, but did not provide a details on a specific place and time, the Daily Mail reports.

A family source told DailyMail.com last week the Jackson patriarch faded into unconsciousness last Tuesday, and died the following day alongside his wife Katherine.

The source said Katherine decided to move Jackson into hospice care days prior, when his health took a drastic decline.

It seems Jackson had been ill for months but became worse over the course of two weeks before his cancer death.

Jackson had been in a 69-year rocky relationship with his estranged wife Katherine, whom he had 10 children with - including Janet and Michael.

Pop star Michael Jackson with his father Joe Jackson in 2005. Photo / AP

He fathered a love child, Joh'Vonnie Jackson, with mistress Cheryl Terrell in August 1974.

Katherine filed for divorce in March of 1973, more than one year before Joh'Vonnie was born.

Jackson was accused of having multiple extramarital affairs during his marriage to Katherine. He was also accused of sexual, physical and emotional abuse by his children.

The allegations surfaced in the 1980s and 1990s. His daughter, La Toya wrote in her memoir in 1991 that her father sexually abused her as a child.

"When your father gets out of bed with your mother and gets into bed with his daughter and you hear the mother saying, 'No, Joe, not tonight. Let her rest. Leave her alone, she's tired', that makes you crazy," she wrote.

While speaking with Oprah Winfrey in a 1993 interview, Michael Jackson opened up about the alleged abuse he and his siblings suffered during their childhood and in The Jackson 5.

Michael said the family was ordered to constantly rehearse and once recalled his father sitting in a chair with a belt in his hand as he and his brothers practised.

"If you didn't do it the right way, he would tear you up, really get you," Michael said.

His family still paid heartfelt tribute to the late patriarch on social media following news of his death.

La Toya Jackson took to Twitter to tell her father "I will always love you!

"You gave us strength, you made us one of the most famous families in the world," she wrote.

"I am extremely appreciative of that, I will never forget our moments together and how you told me how much you cared. #RIP Joe Jackson."

Prince Jackson, Michael's 21-year-old son, called Jackson an "example of sheer will power and dedication."

Prince wrote on Instagram: "He didn't choose the path that was the easiest, but he chose the path that was best for his family," he said, sharing a photo of himself with Jackson.

"You taught me to take pride in the Jackson name and what it really means, you taught me dedication in the face of adversity and most of all you showed me strength and fearlessness.

"There is and never will be someone like you. Fly free and until we meet again The Hawk."

Jackson's grandson, Randy, also shared a tribute to the patriarch and said: "RIP to the king that made everything possible!!! I love you grandpa."

Paris Jackson reportedly offered to pay for the funeral service after a family squabble. Photo / AP

Over the past week, members of the Jackson family were said to be in a squabble over which relative would fund the funeral services.

Jackson's 20-year-old model granddaughter, Paris Jackson, reportedly offered to pay, calling her grandfather a "legend" who "should be treated as such," a family source said in a statement to RadarOnline.

"Janet has said she'll pay for it because she believes Paris paying for it would be an embarrassment to the family."

Paris said last month she was snubbed over an invite to the BillBoard Music Awards where Janet was receiving an Icon award.

The family feud is said to have stemmed from an ongoing battle over Michael's estate.

Joe Jackson called for an end to the family feud and once said there are "too many folks fight against this family, we don't need to fight with each other."