GARY R. SIGLER

Gary Sigler

Gary R. Sigler, 82, of Auburn died Jan. 20, 2025, at his home.

He was born July 14, 1942, in Bloomington, the son of Richard and Wava Buckley Sigler. He married Pamela Harris on Jan. 10, 1965, in Table Grove. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Becky (and Tim) Straley of Vero Beach, Fla.; one son, Zac (and Abbey) Sigler of St. Louis, Mo.; one sister, Judy (and Jack) Makens; seven grandchildren; and two-great-grandchildren.

He earned his BS in psychology from Colorado State University in 1965. He had US Air Force pilot training in Lubbock, Texas, was stationed in South Carolina and Idaho, and went to Thailand in November 1966 shortly after moving Pam and Becky back to her family farm in Illinois.

He and his Co-Pilot and mentor, Mark Stephenson, volunteered to deploy together and fly reconnaissance where they successfully flew 92 combat missions over North Vietnam. They were eventually shot down April 29, 1967, after volunteering for what was to be their last high-risk mission of that tour. After gathering intelligence, they turned the F4 Phantom toward home flying 600 mph at 200 feet skimming treetops and mountains to avoid radar. After taking fire from surface to air missiles they took evasive actions at which point the plane caught fire. Gary ejected from the plane and Mark was unable to do so.

He suffered extreme injuries from the force of ejection, sought to find his way to safety and was captured by villagers May 1, 1967, which was his daughter’s first birthday.

He was held captive in Vietnam prison camps including the Hanoi Hilton, Dog Patch, and others for almost six years. He earned the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, nine Air Medals and two Purple Heart Medals.

Upon his return from Vietnam, he and family moved to Colorado, where he was a flight instructor at the Air Force Academy. Later, the family returned to Table Grove and the Harris family farm. Here he learned to farm, raise livestock, ride quarter horses, and started an executive career in insurance. He retired in 2001 as a VP of Marketing. In 2002, he and Pam moved to Springfield to be closer to family.

Cremation rites were accorded. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 21, in the Harris Cemetery in Table Grove with Mike Ulmer officiating. A Military and Masonic service will be held at the gravesite. Shawgo Memorial Home in Astoria is in charge of arrangements.

Memorials may be made to St. Louis County Police Welfare Association, 7900 Forsyth Blvd, Clayton, MO 63105.

Condolences may be sent to shawgomemorialhome.com.

Published in the Astoria South Fulton Argus on 6/11/2025