Gerald "Jerry" Maurice Ryle, 91, of Staples, died Oct. 9, 2009 at the Lakewood Health System Hospital, Staples.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, Oct. 15 at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Staples with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Yankton, S.D. at a later date.

Arrangements are with the Brenny Funeral Home in Staples.

Jerry was born Nov. 10, 1917, at Wagner, S.D. to Jerry and Marie (Murray) Ryle. He married Ardis Authier on Aug. 31, 1940 in the Cathedral of the Epiphany at Sioux City, Iowa. He served in the U.S. Army in WW II and was proud to have served in the task force of the 1st Infantry Regiment that liberated Bataan.

After the war Jerry and Ardis co-owned and operated Ray's Lockers in Pipestone, owned a theater in Moville, Iowa; and a resort on West Battle Lake. He joined the U.S. Air Force in 1952, served in Nebraska, Fairbanks, Alaska; Minneapolis and Brainerd (1957-1962 as an Air Force Recruiter), Tampa, Florida (during the Cuban Missile Crisis), Orlando, Florda, and Osan, Korea, retiring as a Master Sergeant in 1966.

He received 22 decorations and awards including, the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star, Commendation Medals from the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, the Asiatic Pacifi c Campaign Medal with two bronze battle stars and one bronze invasion arrowhead. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post 791 in Yankton.

Jerry enjoyed hunting, fishing and a good joke. His passion later in life was genealogy.

Gerald is survived by his wife; one daughter, Pat, both of Staples; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and three sisters.

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