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Gillen, Ronald 'Jerry' Jerome
Ronald “Jerry” Jerome Gillen, 81, of Cedar Rapids, died July 16, 2012.Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, July 21, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will begin at noon until the time of service at the chapel on Saturday. Burial will take place at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, with military honors by the Marine Corps League.
Surviving are his wife, Rae Gillen; his children, Mike Gillen (Sue Griffith) of Cedar Rapids and Donna Madden (Gam Rivers) of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandchildren, Brad and Jen Gillen, Maegen and Jason Knapp and their son, Keegan, Jennifer Gillen (Dallas Wilson), Stephanie and Corey Becker and daughter, Emma Gillen, Beau Gillen (Sara Teff), Michelle Madden and daughter, Keira Crowell, Haley Gillen (Cody Johnston) and Alyssa Madden; and his sister, Patricia Reed; as well as many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Tommy Gillen; and his siblings, Delores Elam, Jean Paul, Tom Gillen and Bob Gillen.
Jerry was born Sept. 24, 1930, in Lincoln, Neb., the son of Ronald and Adelia (Lindeken) Gillen.He served his country honorably in the United States Marine Corps, serving in both the Korean and Vietnam wars. He was united in marriage to Daphne Rae Gillen on Oct. 22, 1955, in Concord, Calif. He worked for many years for the Cedar Rapids Police Department as an alarm technician.
He was a member of the Marine Corps League, the VFW and the American Legion.He was very involved with the activities of the Marine Corps League, especially its Toys for Tots program.
He will be remembered as the handy man of the neighborhood, always willing to lend a helping hand to his neighbors. He also enjoyed fishing and loved cooking for his friends and family.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Jerry's honor be directed to Hospice of Mercy.
Please leave a message, tribute or memory to the Gillen family on the Webpage, www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.
Published July 19, 2012 in The Gazette
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