Gary Alan Colle, 78, passed away peacefully at 5:28 a.m., Tuesday, December 8, 2020 at Garden Valley Healthcare under hospice care. Gary was born January 3, 1942 to Gaylord W. “G.W.” and Billie (Chittenden) Colle in Washington, D.C.
He grew up in Wichita, Kansas and Kansas City, MO where he spent most of his adulthood. Gary graduated from East High School in 1960.
Gary is a veteran of the United States Navy; served on nuclear submarines from 1962 to 1969 and was stationed in Key West, Florida following the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
He worked various jobs in the Kansas City area as a maintenance electrician. Gary was an Eagle Scout and a Mic-O-Say tribesman.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Juanita Uht Colle. Gary is survived by two younger brothers: Larry Colle of Houston Lake, MO and John Colle of Blue Springs, MO.
The family will honor Gary’s wishes for cremation. No formal services will be held. Memories of Gary and condolences to the family may be shared at meyersfuneralchapel.com.
So sorry to hear of Gary’s passing. I remember him walking past my house on the way home from school and teasing me about playing whiffle ball in the back yard. I’m EHS class of ’62. My condolences.
IC2(SS) Gary Colle served on: SS-342, SSBN-654 submarines.
He qualified in submarines on the USS Chopper (SS-342) in 1964 and was a IC2(SS) when he left the Navy. His record is now posted online in the Eternal Patrol file on the USSVI website.
A Note of thanks:
This country can be proud and grateful of IC2(SS) Gary Colle service as a sound, young man, eager to care enough about his own stature in life and the welfare of his country to pool his skills serving on a submarine facing the power of the sea submerge. Today the USSVI Topeka-Jefferson City Base shipmates honors his service and his life.