Gerald (Jerry) Corwin Speidel, 86, of Hiawatha, died Saturday, May 12, 2018, at the Hiawatha Community Hospital.

He was born to the late Gerald Corwin and Mary Miller Speidel, May 6, 1932, in Seoul, Korea.  With his parents in 1936 he returned to Charlottesville, VA graduating from Lane High School in 1950 before attending and graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in American History from Oberlin College in Oberlin, Ohio.

He enlisted in the Air Force after graduation and after completing Officer’s Candidate School he received his pilot’s wings at Reese Air Force Base in 1956.  Jerry was stationed at Osan Air Base in Korea in 1961 before being assigned to Forbes Air Base in Topeka in 1966 as a Standard Evaluation Pilot.  While stationed there he met and married Carol Nichols in 1968.  He was assigned to Ching Chaun Kuang (CCK) Air base from 1970 to 1972 for 15 months where he was an instructor pilot for C-130 aircraft which flew cargo and personnel to South Vietnam.  He received three air medals while serving in Taiwan.  Upon his return he served at McCoy Air Base, Orlando, FL as Transportation Squadron Commander.  Jerry retired from the Air Force George Air Base, Victorville, CA in 1977.  He piloted the last flight of the VT-29C, a twin-prop aircraft used for training, V.I.P., TDY and supply flights to the Davis Monthan AFC, AZ where the aircraft was retired from service.

In 1977 Jerry moved to Hiawatha with wife Carol and son, Brett to become the first trust officer of the Morrill & Janes Bank.  Jerry quickly became active in the community serving as District Vice-President of Kiwanis, President of US #36 Highway Association, Treasurer of Convention and Visitor’s Bureau, the Morrill Library Board of Trustees, First United Methodist Church and many others. He created and organized the Hiawatha TubaChristmas in 1992. Jerry with wife Carol, owned and operated Carol’s Hallmark, The Green Giraffe, and Nichols & Lea in Hiawatha and Carol’s Hallmark in Junction City, Ks before closing their stores in 2008.

Jerry is survived by his wife, Carol, son Brett and his wife, Tamara, and granddaughter Sarah of Littleton, CO., brothers Bill (Elena) Speidel of Charlottesville, VA and John Speidel (Donna) of Rocky Mt., VA., nieces Robin (Chris) , Kiki (Mark), Lisa ( Andy) and nephew Joe and brother-in-law Jim Nichols of Lenexa, KS.

A Celebration of Jerry’s life will be held Saturday May 19, 2018 at eleven o’clock at the First United Methodist Church in Hiawatha. Pastor Jacob Cloud will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, memorial  contributions are suggested to the Morrill Library or to the First United Methodist Church and may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S. 7th St., Hiawatha, KS 66434.

A special remembrance may be sent to the family at www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com