More detail on this person: Colonel Gary "Gar"
Edward Thiry, USMC Ret. was called to join our
Lord on April 25, 2015. He was born a Packer fan
on August 14, 1942 as the first son of Delores Mae
(Flynn) Thiry and Raymond Eric Thiry in Green Bay,
WI.
Gar entered the Marine Corps in 1960 at age 16 and
was selected for the Aviation Cadet (MARCAD)
program in Pensacola, from which he earned his
commission and Naval Aviator wings at age 19 in
1963. He also met his bride of 52+ years there,
Sharon Theresa (Werner) Thiry, whom he married
on June 1, 1962.
He flew UH-34 transport Helicopters on the east
coast, completing cruises to Europe, Latin
America, and Norway before his first Viet Nam tour
in 1965 - 13 months with HMM-363 (Red Lions).
Gar returned to Pensacola as a flight instructor
and helped to gather pilots for the first Marine
Cobra squadron. He then returned to Viet Nam for
12 more months.
Gar then worked as an operations officer in the
U.S. Taiwan Defense Command where he led the
planning group for the withdrawal of U.S. forces
after the normalization of relations with
China.
In Hawaii, he commanded a composite CH-46
squadron with Harriers, Cobras, CH-53s and Hueys
attached for an Indian Ocean cruise. He also
earned his masters degree there at Chaminade
University.
Gar spent his Washington, D.C tour on the Op Dep
staff, working joint aviation
matters. He also helped to create the Marine Corps
Doctrine Center at Quantico, VA, serving as Head
of the Joint Warfare department.
As Deputy J-3 and Senior Marine in Latin America
at Southern Command (SouthCom) in Panama, he
headed the planning efforts to remove the Noriega
regime.
Gar completed his 31 years of active service as
the Senior Marine at the Air War College and
retired to Pensacola in 1991. There he designed
and built an
award-winning home and then was a successful real
estate broker and business owner for 15+ years.
Gar also actively participated in several
philanthropic organizations including Kiwanis,
Avant Garde, MOAA and the Daedalions.
This loving husband, father, grandfather, brother
and friend will be missed in too many ways to
list. His humorous wit, integrity, generous
spirit, high intelligence, unwavering spiritual
compass, sense of compassion and strong work
ethic are just a few of his special qualities that
his family and friends enjoyed. His "girls" will
especially miss his energetic dance moves, warm
hugs and having their courageous "rock" to protect
and guide them.
He is survived by his forever-loving wife, Sharon
T. Thiry, two daughters who will miss their hero:
Laurie Thiry Touchberry and Deborah Delores Reid,
a son-in-law: Dwight Touchberry, and five
grandchildren: Kyle Reid, Garren Touchberry, Julia
Reid, Logan Reid and Shawn Touchberry. Gar also
is survived by his sisters: Pam Hillman and Kelly
Liu, and a brother, Jan Thiry, along with his
wife, Sherry Thiry. He is survived by numerous
other family members, friends and colleagues.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April
30, at the Nativity of Our Lord church, with
visitations held from 9-10 a.m. in the church hall
followed by mass at
10 a.m. A military honors ceremony will then take
place at the Barrancas National Cemetary at
approximately 11:45 a.m. In lieu of flowers,
donations are encouraged to support the Wounded
Warriors Project (www.woundedwarriorproject.org).
Condolences and personal memories may also be
posted on the web site for the Oak Lawn Funeral
Home: www.dignitymemorial.com
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 03/11/2023
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