Gerald R Rice
Rank: Unknown
Entered Into Eternal Rest
2024-09-12
Jerry Rice was a kind, intelligent, humble, giving, and loyal man who loved his family and dogs.
He was born on March 13, 1941, in Warrenville, Illinois, to Ralph and Violet Busch Rice. Jerry was the eldest of seven children. In 1960, he married Rose Schlick from West Chicago. While serving in the military, they grew their family to include four daughters—three born in Germany and the youngest born in England.
Jerry served in the military first in the U.S. Army (1958–1963) and then in the U.S. Air Force (1964–1979), retiring after 20 years. He was very proud of his service with the 101st Airborne while stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. During his time at RAF Feltwell/Mildenhall, England, he was part of the Combat Control Team, Blue Berets, completing over 80 parachute jumps—a point of pride for him. In 1966, he was stationed in Évreux, France, and parachuted into France as part of the D-Day Anniversary celebration.
In 1970, Jerry was sent to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, for a year, where he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and Air Medal for combat missions. He also served as an Air Force recruiter in Little Rock, Arkansas, and South Dakota.
After retiring from the military, Jerry met and married his second wife, Diane Kempfer Gitch. They moved to Florida, where he owned Rice Appraisal Service in Tampa for about 30 years. During this time, he built a home on 50 acres and operated an orange grove in Dade City, which he loved tending. Jerry and Diane lived in Dade City until her passing.
Jerry and Rose remained close friends for over 65 years, and he spent his remaining time with Rose in Russell Springs, Kentucky.
Jerry loved his four daughters—Kim & Patrick O’Brien, Sharon & Fred Simano, Karen Berger & Heidi Rice & Paul Hebert—and his stepson David Gitch. He had eleven grandchildren: Patrick and Kevin O’Brien, Heather Simano Miller, Jason Simano, Jesse and Deryk Berger, Georgia, Paige, and Ryan Hebert, and Jordan and Lathaniel Gitch. He also had eight great-grandchildren.
He will be missed by his brothers and sisters: Sharon Worrell, Carol & Wally Mika, Daniel Rice, Dennis & Linda Rice, Mary & Tim Dietzel, and Debra Herman.
Jerry was very charitable, working with Habitat for Humanity—including building projects in Macedonia—as well as various veterans’ organizations and events at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Dade City. For many years, he and Rose also helped pick up and deliver food for local food banks.
The world has lost a truly great man.
