Robert L. Gieryn, 90, a resident of Pinehurst and Southern Pines, died Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at Pinehurst Nursing Center.
A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, in Pinehurst, with Father Gregory Anatuanya celebrating. Burial with military honors will be held at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Southern Pines.
Mr. Gieryn was born in 1922, in Boston, to the late Thomas Steven Gieryn and Helen Zielinski Gieryn. He grew up in Detroit and attended the University of Detroit for two years before enlisting in the Army Air Corp. During World War II he was awarded the rank of first lieutenant and served as a B-17 pilot with the 398th Bomb Group stationed in Nuthampstead, England. He completed 20 missions, including the last mission of the European War at Pilsen, Czechoslovakia.
After the war, he graduated with a B.B.A. degree from the University of Michigan School of Business in 1947. He continued his studies at the University of Cincinnati.
His career began at Pontiac Motor Divisions as a district manager for Montana and part of Wyoming. After his marriage, he returned to Michigan to work for Breneman Inc. and was promoted to controller-treasurer at their headquarters in Cincinnati. After 24 years with Breneman, the company went out of business and he was employed by Ortner Freight Car Company as their controller.
Before retiring, Robert served as director of finance for a not-for-profit organization. He was a member of the Financial Executive Institute and a member of TROA.
Robert married Adelaide (Sandy) Stein in 1950. They were blessed with two children, Robert Jr. and Gail Ann. Robert and Adelaide celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.
Surviving Robert are his wife, Adelaide; son, Robert Jr. and wife, Jan Ellen, of Cincinnati; daughter, Gail Ann Hart and husband, E. Kevin, of Wheaton, Ill.; five grandchildren, Joseph and Whitney Nicole Gieryn, and Emily Katherine, Courtenay and Ian Hart; and brothers Henry Thaddeus and Richard Thomas. He was preceded in death by his brother Ferdinand V. Gieryn; and a sister, Irene Wolfe.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to VFW, 615 S. Page St., Southern Pines, NC 28387, or to FirstHealth Hospice Foundation, 150 Applecross Road, Pinehurst, NC 28374. Online condolences may be made at www.bolesfuneral home.com.
Boles Funeral Home and Crematory of Southern Pines is serving the family.
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