Gerard Richard Kaier

Mr. Gerard Richard Kaier, age 88, of Churchill Street, Dushore, PA passed away on Friday, September 25, 2015 at the Muncy Valley Hospital, Muncy, PA. Gerard was born in Wilkes-Barre, PA on May 9, 1927 a son of the late Xavier J. & Elizabeth Maloney Kaier. He attended St. Basil’s High School and left in his senior year to serve in the US Army during WWII. After being honorably discharged from the Army in 1947 he returned to Buffalo, NY to work at Bell Aircraft. He then returned to Dushore where he married the former Alice Mary Mucha on June 5, 1948. They celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary before her passing on March 14, 2006. He began working for Eighmey Buick in Troy. He later worked for Benson Oldsmobile and Buick in Towanda, PA. In January of 1950 when the Brinks armored car was robbed the culprits O’Keefe and Gusciora were apprehended on June 12, 1950 in Towanda, their vehicle was then brought to Benson Oldsmobile where Gerard dismantled the vehicle under the supervision of the F.B.I. requiring him to stay at the garage for the entire two day period. He owned and operated his own business, the Kaier Body Shop in Mildred, PA for many years until he sold in 1977. He then worked for Henry’s Tool & Machine Shop in New Albany and finally for DuPont Security in Towanda, PA He was an avid reader, especially stories about WWII aircraft and very interested in the formation of the universe. He had a passion for planes and attended numerous air shows and re-enactments of Dog Fights and performances of the Air Force Thunderbirds and the Navy Blue Angels. His room was called “The Museum” because of all the models of air planes, cars and ships that he assembled as well as walls of books. He was a lifelong member of St. Basil’s Church in Dushore and a member of its Holy Name Society. Gerard loved working outside taking care of his lawn. He enjoyed visiting with everyone and had friends of all ages. He was known for his “Little Red Truck.” Surviving: Loving & devoted daughter: Suzanne Kaier Dushore, PA Brother-in-law: Frank Mucha Chenango Bridge, NY Sisters-in-law: Frances Pastusic Mildred, PA Stella Patros Elmira, NY Josephine Klem Dushore, PA Teresa Mucha Binghamton, NY Numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by two sons: Michael F. Kaier on August 3, 1976 and Alan G. Kaier on May 25, 1992 and a brother George A. Kaier on May 21, 1999 and two sisters: Genevieve Mucha on August 11, 1999 and Margaret Grilla on July 19, 1996. Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2015 at 11:30 A.M. from the P. Dean Homer Funeral Home, 206 Water St., Dushore, PA and will be followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00 Noon at St. Basil’s Church, Dushore, PA with the Rev. Richard Rojas, his pastor, presiding. Interment will be in St. Basil’s Cemetery, Dushore, PA. Friends and family may call at the funeral home on Saturday morning from 9:00 to time of the service. Military Graveside services will be accorded by members of Loyalsock Post #996 American Legion and members of the Army Military Honors detail. The family will provide the flowers and direct memorials to St. Basil’s Church, PO Box 307, Dushore, PA 18614. To send condolences or sign the e-guestbook, please go to homerfuneralhome.com To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Gerard Richard Kaier, please visit our flower store.