Obituary: Bannon, Gerald W.
Age 69
He was living life to the fullest until the last few hours.
Born in Wilbur to parents Wally (George Wallace) and Jean Bannon on March 31, 1946, he was an only child.
Throughout his life he was very close to two of his cousins, Susan Harms (Larry) and Stan Miller (Georgia).
Jerry and his parents lived in several small towns, where his dad worked as either a teacher or a principal - Wilbur, Odessa, Harrington, Reardan, and Kettle Falls.
Jerry graduated from EWU Cheney with a B.
A. degree in Education (Biology major) and the R.O.T.C.
program.
He was stationed in Augsburg, Germany, until early 1972.
Upon his discharge from the Army, he went to EWU and then WSU to earn a M.S.
degree in Environmental Science.
In 1974, he moved to Seattle and worked for Resources Conservation Company (a Boeing subsidiary) on advanced wastewater treatment technologies, Chem Securities Systems Company managing the hazardous waste disposal site in Arlington, Oregon, and Dames & Moore, an engineering consulting firm.
He also worked as a hardwood floor installer and finisher in Seattle.
In 2007 he moved back to Eastern Washington, living in a tiny cabin at the family retreat at the confluence of Boulder Creek and the Kettle River near Orient, WA, for five years.
During the years Jerry lived in Seattle, he would flee the city to the quietness of Boulder Creek, to hike on the Kettle Crest or simply relax by the river.
In November 2011 he retired in Reardan.
Jerry kept a blog at The Wonder Springs Chronicle, www.wondersprings.org, from 1999 through 2015, making his final post on the morning he passed away.
He was active in the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Reardan, the Reardan Lions Club, and SINES (Society of Inland Northwest Environmental Scientists) in Spokane.
Preceded in death by his father, Wally, in 1974 and mother, Jean, in 2002, he is survived by two aunts and eighteen cousins on the Miller side of his family and two cousins on the Bannon side of his family.
His passing leaves a huge empty spot in our lives, and he will be greatly missed.
Viewing will be prior to his funeral service, which will be Monday, May 11, at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 155 W. Cottonwood Ave., Reardan, WA.
Lunch will be provided after the service.
Following lunch, Jerry will be transported to the Wilbur Community Cemetery, Wilbur, WA, for burial in the family plot.
Donations may be made in Jerry’s memory to the Reardan Lions Club, PO Box 106, Reardan, WA 99029.