Gary John Reilly

REILLY, GARY J. OBITUARY
March 14, 2011



Gary John Reilly, 61, of Denver, died Thursday, March 10 at his home with the love of his life, Sherry Peterson, at his side.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, March 18 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 3801 West Ohio Avenue, Denver, Colo. Interment, with military honors, will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO. Newcomer Funeral Home (www.newcomerdenver.com), is assisting the family with arrangements. Memorials may be made to the Denver Dumb Friends League, 2080 South Quebec Street, Denver, Colo., 80231.

Gary J. Reilly was born September 5, 1949 in Arkansas City, Kan., to Robert J. and Lois (McDonald) Reilly. The family was transferred often due to the demands of his father's career with F.W. Woolworth. Gary attended schools in Newton, and Wichita, Kan., and Denver, Colo. He graduated in 1967 from Holy Family High School, Denver.

He served with the U.S. Army Military Police Corps, in Vietnam from 1970-71. He achieved the rank of SP4 and was awarded numerous Service Medals as well as Citations as an Expert Marksman.

Gary attended Colorado State University and graduated from the University of Colorado, Denver with a BA in English. He was a talented and dedicated writer.

He is survived by his girlfriend, Sherry Peterson of Denver; brothers Craig Reilly of Lincoln, Neb.; Dan Reilly of Mountain View, Calif.; Tim (June) Reilly of Rapid City, S.D.; sisters Marilyn Reilly and Peg (Quenton) Ondrak of Kearney, Neb.; and Joanne (Jacob) Krieg and Judy (Geoff) Waite of Scottsbluff, Neb; Sherry's family: Robert (Jan) Peterson of Damascus, Maryland; Ronald (Teresa) Peterson of Wray, Colo; David (Leasa), Larry (Debbie), Michael(Terri), Gary(Melissa) of Denver, and sisters Colleen (Richard ) Clem, Jeannie (Greg) Haycraft, Linda Smith, Theresa Peterson of Denver and Christine Peterson of Portland Oregon. Numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his loving parents.