GERALD E. KUECKER

Gerald Edward Kuecker was born December 27, 1942 to parents, Clarence E. Kuecker and Ruby E. Kuecker near West Bend, Iowa. After moving to Minnesota in 1952, Mr. Kuecker graduated from Slayton High School in 1960 and received his B.S. from South Dakota State University in 1964. He was commissioned in 1965 and completed fixed wing and rotary wing flight training in Pensacola, FL in 1966. As a Naval Officer and Naval Aviator he completed two deployments to Southeast Asia during the Vietnam war. Flying the UH-2C helicopter he rescued two downed U.S. Pilots. He was awarded two Air Medals, Navy Citation, Vietnamese Service Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, two Naval Reserve ribbons, and National Defense Medal, and U.S. Navy Pistol Expert.

Mr. Kuecker was released from the U.S. Navy under honorable conditions in 1969 and then joined the U.S. Navy Reserves in 1969. He then flew as a pilot in the SP-2H Neptune and the P-3A Orion on Antisubmarine Warfare missions. He retired from the Reserves in 1985 as a Lieutenant Commander.

Mr. Kuecker also served in the U.S. Treasury Department as a Special Agent and as a Pilot Supervisor with the U.S. Customs Service and retired from U.S. Customs as a GS-14 in 1995. He graduated from the University of Southern California Aviation Safety Program in 1985 and graduated from the U.S. Navy War College Command and Staff Course in 1979. He was VFW Post 750 Commander in 2001-2002 and VFW South Dakota State Commander in 2012-2013. He was a Life member of the VFW, American Legion, Vietnam Veterans of America, and Disabled American Veterans. He was also an annual member of the National Rifle Association, Military Officers Association, and Federal Law Enforcement Association.

As a Civilian Pilot, Mr. Kuecker held an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and Certified Flight Instructor in Multi-engine, Single engine and Instrument Instructor. He held Pilot Type Ratings in the T-39 Jet Sabreliner, C-55 Jet Citation, the UH-60 Blackhawk and the GS-2 Grumman. He also piloted many other aircraft including: multi-engine turboprops, single engine, and the Bell Cobra.

He was the father of two beloved daughters, with his previous beloved wife. He was preceded in death by his parents, and a sister, Shirley, and is survived by his brother, Ron, and sister, Darlene. He is also survived by many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and a wonderful son-in-law. He was an avid hunter and horseback rider.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 PM Thursday, March 3, 2022 in Jacksonville National Cemetery with Military Honors.

A memorial service and a celebration of life will be held at Hadley Community Center in the spring.