Gerald August Gleichman

Gerald was born March 21,1936 in Okarche, Oklahoma, on the Gleichman family farm, in the midst of the Great Depression, to William Albert and Anna Clara (Biller) Gleichman. Gerald attended St. John's Lutheran School and graduated 8th grade in 1950. He graduated from Concordia High School in Seward, Nebraska in 1954 where he played basketball and football.

After high school, Gerald attended Oklahoma State University, before graduating from Florida State University (FSU) with a BA degree in Geography and a minor in Meteorology. He also studied at the University of Southern California and the University of Albuquerque, where he received a BS in Psychology. At FSU, Gerald was in the US Air Force Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC) program.

After graduating from FSU, Gerald was commissioned into the United States Air Force in 1961 as a 2nd Lieutenant, and was assigned to Harlingen Air Force Base (AFB), Texas for Navigator training. After completing training, he was assigned to Mather AFB in Sacramento, CA for Navigator Bombardier Training. After completing his training, Gerald’s first operational assignment was Charleston AFB, SC, (Flying C-54, C-130 and C-141 aircraft). Then he was sent to Vietnam, where he flew the AC-119. After Gerald’s service in Vietnam, he was stationed at Kirtland AFB in Albuquerque, NM where he flew the RB-57 (a high altitude research aircraft). After his duty assignment in New Mexico, Gerald and his family moved to his next assignment at McCord AFB, in Tacoma WA, where he served in the North American Aerospace Defense (NORAD) Command. While stationed in Tacoma with NORAD, Gerald was deployed to Campion Air Force Station, AK. During his 12 month assignment to Campion, (A radar station above the arctic circle), Gerald served as the Air Force Station Commander. Upon his return from Campion, Gerald was transferred back home to Tinker AFB, OK. At Tinker, Gerald served as the Mission Crew Commander on the E-3A AWACS, and he also served as his squadron’s Operations Officer. After a distinguished 20 year career in the United States Air Force, Gerald retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1983.

Gerald was awarded numerous Air Force Citations, Awards and medals, including:

• Two time “Distinguish Flying Cross” recipient, April 1970 & January 1971

• Two time “Air Medal” recipient, February 1970 & January 1971

• “Meritorious Service Medal” recipient, May 1983

After retiring from his military service, he joined the Boeing Company in 1985, where he served three and a half years in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where he managed the establishment of the Saudi AWACS Wing and Squadron Operations for the Royal Saudi Air Force. Upon completing his project for Boeing in Saudi Arabia, Gerald was relocated back to Oklahoma, and was assigned to Boeing’s office at Tinker AFB, OK, and again took up residence in Edmond. Gerald retired from Boeing in June 1995.

Over his tenures with the US Air Force and Boeing, he was fortunate enough to have traveled to 57 Countries.

Gerald married Iona L. Wainwright on February 2nd, 1963. At the time of Iona’s passing on July 7th, 2008, they had been married for 45 years. Together they were the proud parents of four wonderful boys: Eric Scott of Edmond, Stuart Wade of Okarche, Stephen Bryan of Edmond and Bradley Jay of Edmond.

After retirement, Gerald enjoyed one of his greatest activities, being a proud grandfather (papa) to his 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Some of his favorite activities with his grandchildren included cheering them on in their sports activities, shopping with them at garage sales and enjoying biscuits and gravy at Braums.

On February 20, 2010, Gerald married his St. John's Lutheran School sweetheart Verilea Faust from Okarche, OK. They spent 14 wonderful years together until his passing.

Gerald was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Okarche where he served as an Elder. He enjoyed his many friendships and his relationship with the Pastors.

Gerald is preceded in death by his wife Iona, his parents William and Anna Gleichman, his son Stephen Bryan and his brothers John, George, and Donald and other family and friends.

Gerald is survived by his wife Verilea Gleichman, his brothers Eldon Gleichman, Ralph Gleichman, Larry Gleichman, Vernal (Tex) Gleichman, as well as his sister Barbara Liebel, and her husband Tom.

He is also survived by his sons, Eric and his wife Kelli, Brad and his wife Marsha, as well as his son Stuart. Gerald is also survived by his grandchildren Michael Levine and his wife Jennifer, Taylor Gleichman and her fiancé Bryce Lowry, Aubrey Gleichman, Nathan Peterson and his wife Emily, Stuart Gleichman, Jr. and his wife Kate, William Gleichman and is wife Lizbeth, Danielle Atondo and her husband Victor, and his great grandchildren Meyer and Miles Levine and Leonardo (Leo) and Emilio Atondo, all of whom will love and miss him greatly.

A funeral service for Gerald will be held Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church, 408 Colorado Ave, Okarche, OK 73762. Viewing will be held 9:45 - 10:00 am service day. A committal service will be held 1:00 pm Thursday, January 9th at Memorial Park Cemetery with military honors. In lieu of flowers, a donation could be made in Gerald’s name to the St John’s Lutheran Church of Okarche.