Gerald
Gerald Gnau
d. June 30, 2018
Gerald Omer Gnau, beloved son, brother, father, grandfather and great grandfather, shed this mortal coil, in peace, Saturday, June 30, 2018 in Saucier.
Surrounded by his loving family, he undertook the journey to join his beloved wife, Joan (Herrin); his father and mother, Gerald E. and Janice (Tavener); and siblings, Jim and Judy.
Carrying his loving memory will be his daughter, Rachel and her wife, Melissa; son, Thomas; brother, Greg; granddaughters, Jessica and Rebecca; and four great-grandchildren.
Gerald enlisted in the Navy in 1959 and was a seaman signalman serving aboard both the destroyers USS John D New and USS Robert L Wilson in the North Atlantic Ocean. He separated from the Navy in June 1962 and enlisted in the Air Force a month later. He attended ground radio maintenance school at Keesler AFB before his first and favorite assignment at Dauphin Island Air Force Base, AL. In 1965, he was assigned to Royal Air Force Alconbury, United Kingdom. Next he served at Morón Air Base, Spain, where missions included communications and rescue support for NASA's Apollo 7, Apollo 8, and Apollo 9 manned missions.
Returning to the United States, he served as part of the Distant Early Warning Line at Empire Air Force Station, Michigan, which was followed by two tours in the Republic of Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star.
Gerald returned to Keesler AFB to teach ground radio maintenance for two years before five years as a recruiter in Uniontown, PA. In 1978, he was assigned to the Communications Squadron at Keesler and served as the chief of the ground-to-air maintenance shop. He retired from the military in 1981 with 23 years of service earning both the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Four years later, Gerald returned to Keesler AFB as a civilian instructor teaching the maintenance officer course. Four years after that, he worked to develop interactive courseware for technical training. Completing his civilian career, he spent twelve years as the 81st Training Group's expert in facilities resource management, before retiring in 2006.
From that day, until the time of his passing, Gerald devoted his total being to caring for his family and living each day to the fullest. His caring devotion to family and service to this great nation have left a lasting influence which will not soon be forgotten.
The family prefers donation be made to the Cancer Research Institute of New York, 29 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, in honor of their loved one's brave fight.
Gerald will be laid to rest in a private ceremony, with full military honors, at the United States National Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Thursday, July 5, 2018.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport is serving the family.
An online obituary may be viewed and condolences and phots shared at www.riemannfamily.com
Surrounded by his loving family, he undertook the journey to join his beloved wife, Joan (Herrin); his father and mother, Gerald E. and Janice (Tavener); and siblings, Jim and Judy.
Carrying his loving memory will be his daughter, Rachel and her wife, Melissa; son, Thomas; brother, Greg; granddaughters, Jessica and Rebecca; and four great-grandchildren.
Gerald enlisted in the Navy in 1959 and was a seaman signalman serving aboard both the destroyers USS John D New and USS Robert L Wilson in the North Atlantic Ocean. He separated from the Navy in June 1962 and enlisted in the Air Force a month later. He attended ground radio maintenance school at Keesler AFB before his first and favorite assignment at Dauphin Island Air Force Base, AL. In 1965, he was assigned to Royal Air Force Alconbury, United Kingdom. Next he served at Morón Air Base, Spain, where missions included communications and rescue support for NASA's Apollo 7, Apollo 8, and Apollo 9 manned missions.
Returning to the United States, he served as part of the Distant Early Warning Line at Empire Air Force Station, Michigan, which was followed by two tours in the Republic of Vietnam, where he earned the Bronze Star.
Gerald returned to Keesler AFB to teach ground radio maintenance for two years before five years as a recruiter in Uniontown, PA. In 1978, he was assigned to the Communications Squadron at Keesler and served as the chief of the ground-to-air maintenance shop. He retired from the military in 1981 with 23 years of service earning both the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Force Commendation Medal.
Four years later, Gerald returned to Keesler AFB as a civilian instructor teaching the maintenance officer course. Four years after that, he worked to develop interactive courseware for technical training. Completing his civilian career, he spent twelve years as the 81st Training Group's expert in facilities resource management, before retiring in 2006.
From that day, until the time of his passing, Gerald devoted his total being to caring for his family and living each day to the fullest. His caring devotion to family and service to this great nation have left a lasting influence which will not soon be forgotten.
The family prefers donation be made to the Cancer Research Institute of New York, 29 Broadway, New York, NY 10006, in honor of their loved one's brave fight.
Gerald will be laid to rest in a private ceremony, with full military honors, at the United States National Cemetery in Biloxi, Mississippi, on Thursday, July 5, 2018.
RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport is serving the family.
An online obituary may be viewed and condolences and phots shared at www.riemannfamily.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerald Gnau, please visit our flower store.
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