OBITUARY Gerald Piele May 19, 1927 – September 26, 2018 Gerald Hergert Piele 1927 ~ 2018 Gerald Hergert Piele was born in Nucla, Colorado on May 19, 1927 to Wilma and Walter Piele. He had a lifelong interest in aviation because his father was a pilot, adventurer, and barnstormer. After his parents divorced, Wilma married Charlie Yates, who was always a good friend.
Wilma’s mother and Walter’s father also strongly influenced his character and personal development. Jerry spent his early years in the small mining town of Telluride, Colorado. Because his mother valued higher education, they moved to Salt Lake City where he and his sister could attend high school and the university.
After graduation from West High School, he went on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in electrical engineering with minors in math and physics from the University of Utah. He was a Registered Professional Engineer. The Gerald H. Piele scholarship at Weber State University, announced annually by the Utah Engineers Council, encourages others to join the profession.
Jerry was well respected in the communications and defense industries for his mathematical and engineering ability. His extraordinary mathematical intuition enabled him to grasp and solve exceptionally difficult problems with elegance and finesse. He made many noteworthy contributions in the area of microwave communications that resulted in numerous design awards and three patents.
He had a curious and creative mind and was always carrying out scientific experiments. His idea of a good time involved building model airplanes, trying to cook eggs in a homemade solar reflector, learning foreign languages such as German and Spanish, solving math problems, or deducing the location of Malaysian Flight MH-370. He also enjoyed Strauss waltzes and bagpipe music.
Jerry tutored all of his children in math while they were growing up and made sure that they deeply appreciated the profound beauty of Euler’s identity. Jerry first met his future wife, Margaret, as a pen pal. Jerry was interested in Margaret romantically from the very beginning.
For her, however, it was just a friendship until she emigrated to the U.S. from England and met him in person for the first time. They married about two years later on St. Patrick’s Day. St. Patrick is the patron saint of engineers.
They were always best friends and their marriage was exceptionally strong and loving. He was a wonderful father and friend because of his great kindness, patience, and generosity. He had absolute integrity.
He did not make casual promises; but if he said he would try to do something, you could be sure he would do it. Jerry lived in Idaho with his youngest son for the last 20 years of his life. He passed away peacefully at home on September 26, 2018 of complications resulting from a stroke.
He is survived by his children David (Janis), Charles (Teresa), Janet (Robert), Susan (Scot), Sophia (Craig), Robert, and his sister Barbara. He has 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren with two more expected soon. He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret; his parents; his sister Adele; brother Leslie; and his cousin Joyce (Leo), who was like a sister to him.
The family held a private funeral service on Saturday, October 6, 2018 at the Skyview Ward, 1361 E 4000 S, Millcreek, UT, 84124. Burial was at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park in Salt Lake City. FAMILY Jerry is survived by his children David (Janis), Charles (Teresa), Janet (Robert), Susan (Scot), Sophia (Craig), Robert, and his sister Barbara.
He has 17 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren with two more expected soon. He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret; his parents; his sister Adele; brother Leslie; and his cousin Joyce (Leo), who was like a sister to him.
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