Family and friends
Though we cannot gather together to honor Jerry, we can share here our memories and our good fortune in having known him
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Join MemoriesBill Obermeyer Gerald Frederick Obermeyer was born to Jacob and Anna Olivia (Gumaer) Obermeyer on either the 15th or 17th of September in 1922; his mother and the doctor never did agree on the date.
There was skating on the pond, hunting, building and repairing, but no electricity at home. There were eight years in a one room school and, perhaps more important to his education, a Model T Ford; a mechanical puzzle that he fixed and drove before licensing age.
Bill Obermeyer At the age of 18, he joined the Army Air Corps. It needed trained mechanics, so the Air Corps turned Jerry into a skilled aircraft mechanic in 6 months at Chanute Field, Illinois.He had other new experience there, including measles.
Bill Obermeyer ...and there he met a girl. Mary Eileen Moran
Bill Obermeyer In crucial turning point in his life, his 13th Reconnaissance Squadron was moved to Bangor, Maine.
Bill Obermeyer 403rd Bomb Squadron (H) - Engineering Section (date and location estimated)
Isa Dolski Jerry and Buba (Eileen's brother, William H. Moran, Jr.)
Bill Obermeyer Visiting Mount Desert
Bill Obermeyer Jerry and Eileen marry. Eileen’s sister, Virginia was matron-of-honor, with bridesmaids Mary Gormely and Thelma Stone and junior bridesmaids Judy Hobbs and Mary Ellen Moran. Joseph Obermeyer was best man with ushers John Obermeyer, Richard and Robert Moran and Midshipman John Holland
Bill Obermeyer He joined the firefighting crews battling “The Great Fire” that burned a third of Mount Desert Island in Acadia National Park (map from the National Park Service)
HIs first son was born during a “can’t miss” chemistry test.
Isa Dolski Three and a half months after that chemistry test...
Bill Obermeyer The University of Maine took a chance on Jerry, though some said he was “not college material”. Maine’s bet paid off. He not only graduated from their mechanical engineering program, but achieved great success in his chosen profession
Bill Obermeyer His first house, 44 Princeton St., bought when he started working for F. W. Sickles
Bill Obermeyer Transferred to Danielson, CT, Jerry found house at 22 Forest Ave. in nearby Southbridge, MA
Bill Obermeyer Before they could move in to the house in Southbridge, his second son, Stephen, was born - two weeks early - after he left for work in Connecticut
Bill Obermeyer Jerry found and cleared the land, and served as general contractor (and many other roles) working nights and weekends to build a new house for the family at 47 Craig St.
Bill Obermeyer With his parents at their 50th wedding celebration along with his brothers and sisters
FROM: David Lewels Gerry and I secured friendship while as we worked together at General Instrument in El Paso. I knew him as a brilliant mechanical engineer. He showed great patience in trying to teach me to read drawings. We became tennis partners and played every early every Saturday morning no matter the weather. He helped me install a g...
Bill Obermeyer BE IT KNOWN THAT Gerald Frederick Obermeyer HAVING GIVEN SATISFACTORY EVIDENCE OF QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED BY SEC.12(a),SENATE BILL no. 74, ACTSREGULAR SESSION, 45TH LEGISLATURE OF TEXAS IS GRANTED THIS CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION AND IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED TO PRACTICE AS A PROFESS10NAL ENGINEER
Bill Obermeyer After 63 years of marriage... Listen to them. In their own words On Valentines Day
Bill Obermeyer From Pat Mathisen (Jerry's sister)... During a trip to State College to visit me, he found out that a B-17 airplane from World War II was touring the US and was scheduled to land at the local airport. Jerry, a WW II veteran was a mechanic who worked on this type of aircraft. Coincidently his good buddy, Charlie Hansen who served with Jerry in the Air Force lived close by. A trip was arranged to visit the aircraft. To their surprise a local news reporter sought them out for an interview and their story made the front page of the local paper. Overnight my brother became the local celebrity! Just one of my many cherished memories of a brother who was loved and will be greatly missed..
Paul Obermeyer Every Christmas, Bill and Isa graciously drove over to Houston with Dad, so he could see his cherished grandchildren and great grandchildren. Here are some photos from 2016 -- the last time we were altogether in one location.
Bill Obermeyer When I lost everything in the wildfires of 2017, he shared this family photo of 1954 which I so cherish.... click for more Jereeo was put on this earth to inspire goodness. He would be there to dispense positive advice succinctly put into a few words. Only an engineer could do that with such precision. I had the pleasure of travelling with him and Eileen to Juarez, Mexico. He beamed explaining the intricacies of his work and it was easy to see how he was loved by everyone he touched. He spoke often of Portugal and the fond memories he and Eileen made there. His proudest accomplishment of all was no doubt his family. His devotion to Eileen would light up a room. When Eileen passed, he devoted is time to carrying on her role of family historian. When I lost everything in the wildfires of 2017, he shared this family photo of 1954 which I so cherish. Every year with precision he would send out Holiday cheers and hello’s to all. His kind words were the highlight of my day. Jerry will be greatly missed. His adventures will continue with Mereeo and Jereeo united again to watch over the our generations of new and old. Thank you Jerry for all the fond memories and the words that you embedded in me that I pass on to my kids: Remember always, you are loved
Bill Obermeyer You identify the problem and then you solve it. If your walker isn’t working for you - find the right replacement.
He was an engineer throughout his life. As a child he had to know how that Model T Ford worked. Only weeks before he left this world he had to know how his oxygen concentrator worked.