Colonel (Retired) Gerry L. Suchanek, PhD

Colonel (Retired) Gerry L. Suchanek, PhD, 75, of Hampton, Illinois, passed away Sunday January 29, 2023, at Genesis Medical Center East Campus, Davenport.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday February 2, 2023, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline.  Visitation will be from 12 p.m. until the 1 p.m. service time at the funeral home on Thursday. He will be buried at Rock Island National Cemetery with full military honors.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorials may be made to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation ( specialops.org , select “DONATE”) for surviving children of fallen Special Operations Personnel and children of all Medal of Honor Recipients.

Gerry was born on March 19, 1947, in Grand Island, Nebraska.  Gerry was the oldest of three sons born to Emil Bob and Viola June (Larsen) Suchanek.  He married Julie on March 8, 2003, in DeWitt, Iowa.  Gerry received his Doctor of Philosophy in Economics from Northwestern University, where he also earned a Master of Science in Mathematics.  He previously had graduated from the University of Oregon with a Master of Arts in Econometrics.

Gerry retired from the United States Army Reserve as a Special Forces Colonel after 36 years of service.  He was mobilized for OPERATIONS DESERT STORM and PROVIDE COMFORT, as well as the UN / NATO peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, where he commanded the 415th Civil Affairs Battalion.  He was an Assistant Professor of Finance at the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business, retiring after 27 years.

Gerry was a member of Wildwood Baptist Church. He loved Christian music, cooking and reading. Gerry loved his God, country, and family, especially his grandchildren.

Survivors include his loving wife, Julie, two brothers, two sons, one daughter, four grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memories may be shared on the tribute wall.