Gerald McGonigle Obituary

McGonigle
Gerald Charles
McGonigle
December 3, 1936
April 2, 2003

Gerald (Gerry) Charles McGonigle
Gerry McGonigle, 86, long-time Colorado Springs resident and recent resident of Louisville, CO passed away on April 2, 2023. His wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren were at his side.
Gerry was born to Marion (Mac) McGonigle and Dorothy (Rohrig) McGonigle December 3, 1936 in Miami Florida. He attended Peekskill Military Academy in N.Y. for the 6th through the 8th grades then, after graduating high school, he moved to Phoenix, AZ and joined the United States Air Force. Upon completion of basic training, he was sent to Lowry AFB in Denver, where he attended technical training on the radar fire control radar system of the F-89G/H, F-101B, and F-102A aircraft. After completion of his 4-year enlistment, he was hired as a civil service employee and remained at Lowry as an instructor and course writer, achieving the level of Master Instructor. Later, he received training on the bombing and navigation system of the B-52D.
In 1961, Gerry married Wanda Rice of Westby, Montana and shared the next 62 years with the "love of his life." Gerry always gave Wanda most of the credit for their enduring marriage often saying, "I would have left me years ago!" Their first child, Jeff, was born while they were living in Aurora, Colorado.
Gerry went to work for Hewlett Packard in Colorado Springs in 1965 and over the 34 years, managed the Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) manufacturing facility and was the last manager of this facility, charged with overseeing its closure as the company moved to newer technologies. Despite no college degree, he was made an Honorary Engineer.
Gerry enjoyed photography, home improvement projects, gardening, and immaculately maintaining his large yard. He also greatly enjoyed candy corn, shoestring potatoes, and ice cream. He and Wanda were active in the community and in earlier years coached youth soccer and played in local adult soccer leagues. They participated in bowling leagues and monthly bridge gatherings. Gerry was an active member of the local Hewlett Packard Legacy Retiree Club.
He is survived by his loving wife, Wanda, son Jeff (Lis), and two granddaughters, Piper and Polly. He was preceded in death by a son, Mark, his brother Fred, and his parents.
His family will remember him as a man who would fix and repair rather than buy or throw away. He could endlessly grouse about the traffic and weather. He was a present father, selflessly spending time, coaching soccer, playing games, telling jokes, and teaching all manner of things. He adored his granddaughters, and kept nearly every card, thank-you note, and piece of artwork ever sent, scanning them into his computer and creating mousepads or calendars. Their pictures were all over the house.
In helping to move Gerry and Wanda from Colorado Springs to Louisville, a box was discovered containing Gerry's "Head Boy" pins from Peekskill Military Academy. This brought great delight to his Harry-Potter-loving granddaughters.
If desired, donations can be made to American Parkinson Disease Association: https://www.apdaparkinson.org/
Please join us celebrating his life Sunday, May 21, from 2 - 5 p.m. at The Acreage, 1380 Horizon Ave, Lafayette, CO 80026. In lieu of flowers we ask that you spend time with your loved ones, check your wiper fluid and tire pressure, clean your windshield, and check your general vehicle safety as he would have done for his family.