Gerald William Dillon (Jerry), 77, of St. Charles, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, February 1. He was born on April 9, 1941 in Joliet, IL to Gerald Vincent and Josephine Dillon. He married D. Kaye Buschlen on January 4, 1965.
Jerry attended Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, graduating in 1959. He proudly served in the U.S. Army from 1960-1964, including an assignment on an Army base in West Germany. After the service, he was employed at McDonnell Douglas.
He then worked at QuikTrip and 7-Eleven stores as a manager for more than 15 years. He received a promotion in the early 1980s to become a district inventory auditor. He also opened a bakery business, A Taste of Heaven, with his wife on Main Street in St. Charles in 1985. He attended three years of college at Lindenwood College studying business. He operated his own successful business called GWD Inventory Specialists for over 20 years. After that, he rode a St. Charles City School District school bus as a monitor for the past eight years. He was proud of his perfect attendance with the School District.
He loved bowling and was very proud when he bowled a perfect 300 game. Throughout his life, he enjoyed playing wiffle ball and softball; and rooting for the St. Louis Cardinals and Mizzou football and basketball. His hobbies also included playing guitar.
He is survived by his wife, Kaye, of St. Charles; his daughter Tonja Castaneda (Ken) of Denver; his Daughter Tammy Beardsley of Washington D.C.; and son, Gerald V. Dillon, II of Orlando. He is also survived by nine grandchildren who he loved dearly. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Charlie Forrest. He is also survived by his sister Judy Forrest; Sister Debbie Montgomery (Mike); and Brother Tom Jorgenson; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his Aunt Helen Stewart and Uncle Bernard Haake. He was preceded in death by his baby brother Daniel Patrick.
Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. Thursday, February 7 at Newcomers at Mid Rivers Mall followed by A Celebration of Life starting at 7 p.m. with a military honors ceremony.
Burial will follow at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in Joliet, IL, where he will be buried next to his father.