Jerry Thelan Rehm

Jerry Thelan Rehm January 31, 1932 October 27, 2008 Jerry Thelan Rehm, 76, of Waco, passed away October 27, 2008, at his home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, October 30, at First Baptist Church of Waco, with Dr. Scott Walker and Dr. John Wood officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 29, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Jerry was born January 31, 1932, in Ste. Genevieve, MO, to Clarence and Wilma Joggerst Rehm, and grew up in De Soto, MO. After graduation from De Soto High School in 1950, Jerry attended St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis, MO. In 1952, he joined the United States Air Force and was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in 1954 at James Connally Air Force Base, Waco. He remained at James Connally six years as an instructor in Navigation and Radar Intercept flight training programs. While in Waco, Jerry met Katharine Mitchell. They were married in 1958 and recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. In 1960, Jerry was selected as a Foreign Exchange Officer with the British Royal Air Force stationed in England. There he served in No. 33 Squadron of combat ready all weather fighters. Following his tour in the R. A. F., Jerry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronics Engineering from the University of North Dakota in 1964. He was then sent to San Antonio, Texas, as an Electronics Engineer with United States Air Force Security Service. During the Vietnam War, most of his Air Force career was spent conducting military operations in support of the war. Jerry completed 33 years of Air Force Service, retiring as a Colonel. In 1981, Jerry moved to Waco to manage family owned farm, ranch, and timber properties in Central and East Texas. He also owned and operated Jerry Rehm Realty, a real estate brokerage and property management company. Jerry was a member of First Baptist Church of Waco, where he served as a deacon for many years. He was also an active member of the Rotary Club of Waco. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; brother, James Rehm; and sister, Jacqueline Rehm. Survivors include his wife, Katharine Mitchell Rehm; daughter, Dorothy Rehm Smith and husband, Robert, of Garland; son, Paul Mitchell Rehm, of Waco; grandchildren, Mitchell, Philip, and Katharine Smith, of Garland; and brother, Jordan Rehm and wife, Sarah, of Herculaneum, MO. Pallbearers will be Cleveland Witt, Carl Johnson, Jr., William Smith, Gary Gohlke, Edward Lee, George Graves, Robert Smith, and Charles Jaynes. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Waco Foundation, 500 Webster Avenue, Waco, TX, 76706; or Fuzzy Friends Rescue, P. O. Box 20966, Waco, TX, 76702. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com.