Retired Major USAF Gerald George Kelleher, 78, Granville and formerly of Minot died on Saturday, September 24, 2011 in a Minot healthcare center.

Gerald was born on June 22, 1933 in Springfield, Massachusetts to George and Helen (Parker) Kelleher. He was reared and educated there and graduated from Technical High School. Gerald enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on July 5, 1951 and he served during the Korean Conflict prior to his honorable discharge on July 4, 1954. Following his discharge he attended the Colorado School of Mines in Colorado Springs for two years prior to enlisting in the U.S. Air Force on November 8, 1960.

Gerald married Janice Herlihy on October 6, 1962 in Springfield. They made their home at various air force bases including Homestead AFB near Miami FL and Wright-Patterson AFB near Dayton Ohio prior to being stationed at Minot AFB beginning in 1976. In addition, Ret. Major Kelleher had three tours of duty in Vietnam as a B-52 bombardier navigator and received the Distinguished Flying Cross and played a major role in Minot Air Force Base being a two time recipient of the Fairchild Trophy for strategic bombing expertise. Jerry retired from the U.S. Air Force as a Major in January of 1982.

Jerry and Jan continued to make their home in Minot where he was employed as a real estate agent for a few years and then as a B-52 flight tech simulator operator for fourteen years. Due to the flood during the summer of 2011 they had moved to Granville.

Jerry especially enjoyed golfing since he was ten years old and had achieved a hole-in-one at a golf course in Florida. He now has a daily tee time in Heaven with Bob Goodwin and Doyle Van Arsdale. Jerry was the proud owner of a 1961 Corvette that after he sold it became the number one corvette in the USA. He was very proud of his Irish heritage, was academically well read and enjoyed discussing world politics, religion, sociology and philosophy.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife of 48 years Jan; children: Kathleen Kelleher of Sierra Madre, CA, Shawn (Rachael) Kelleher and Michael Kelleher, all of Minneapolis; grandchildren: Danielle and Ryan Kelleher and Paris Brom; sister: Dorothy O'Brien of Longmeadow, MA and cousin: Helen (Lou) Verani of Willbraham, MA.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and nephew: Eric O'Brien.

Mass of Christian Burial: Friday, September 30, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. in Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Minot.
Vigil Prayer Service: Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home Chapel.
Graveside Service: Monday, October 3, 2011 at 10:45 a.m. in Fort Snelling National Veterans Cemetery, St. Paul MN.
Visitation: Thursday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Wounded Warriors Project 4899 Belfort Road, suite 300, Jacksonville FL 32256.