Gerry Schirmer 1932-2016
Major Gerald (Gerry) Clarence Schirmer, 84, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, in Las Vegas, Nev.
Gerry is best known for his commitment to family and country and for his passion for aviation.
Gerry was born in Holton, Kansas, to Rebecca (Haag) and Clarence Schirmer on March 5, 1932. Gerry graduated from Holton High School in 1950 where he had met the love of his life, Nancy Moore. Shortly after college Gerry and Nancy married and spent 63 years together raising four children and managing dual careers but still taking time to have many fun-filled family trips in their private airplane.
Major Schirmer served 22 years in the U.S. Air Force. Gerry graduated top of his flight school class in 1955 and became a jet pilot instructor. Later Gerry became an F-100 fighter pilot and flew hundreds of combat missions in the Vietnam War and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross in 1968.
After the war, Gerry was selected to be in the initial cadre of pilots for the state-of-the-art F-111 supersonic fighter jet. He continued to fly and train others in the F-111 until he retired from the Air Force in 1977. Shortly after leaving the Air Force, Gerry was named the Director of Operations at Scenic Airlines in Las Vegas.
After retiring again in 1990 Gerry continued to fly as a corporate pilot into his late seventies. At the same time, Gerry continued to fly his private plane and had his last flight just a week before he died suddenly from a fatal head injury caused by an accidental fall at home.
Gerry, a lifetime member of QB’s, always enjoyed hanging out at the airport with his fellow airport bums, working on planes, and lending a hand whenever he could. He will be missed my many.
Gerry is preceded in death by his wife, Nancy; his parents, Rebecca and Clarence Schirmer; his sister, Marguerite (Schirmer) Sharp; brother, David Schirmer; daughter, Patty Schirmer; and grandson Grant Schirmer.
Gerry is survived by daughters Susan (Mike) Machen and Sarah (Joe) d’Eon; son Chet (Karen) Schirmer; 10 grandchildren, Samantha (Ben) Alsop, Ben (Megan) Machen, Alexandra Machen, Edward Machen, Jeanne (Tony) Cafferata, Christie d’Eon, Joe d’Eon, Tiffany (Tony) Jordan, Jetta (Noah) Russell and Kit Schirmer; eight great-grandchildren, Lola and AJ Cafferata, Grayson Alsop, Emerson and Declan Russell, Elliott Machen, and Eli and Remington Jordan; and sister-in-law Ellen Schirmer.
Memorial services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12 at Evangel United Methodist Church, 227 Pennsylvania Ave., Holton, KS 66436. Burial will follow in Holton Cemetery.
Condolences may be left at the online memorial: http://gerry-schirmer.forevermissed.com/. The family invites you to share a story or memory. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to VFW Post 1367, 926 W. Sixth St., Holton, KS 66436.
(PAID OBITUARY)
