Jerry Dalrymple

Growing up, every family vacation was also a history lesson. Throughout the entire trip, his parents would teach him all about the places they were visiting, something he always remembered and talked about.

For 14 years, he served in the Army National Guard Reserves. We thank you for your service!

Then there was the night that changed everything. While out with a buddy, in walked a lady wearing a yellow flowered dress. Jerry took one look at her and said, “I’m going to marry that woman.” That same evening, Janet was walking into the same place when she noticed a nice sports car outside. She told her friend, “I’m going to marry whoever drives that car.” It was Jerry’s!

Before the night was over, Janet tripped on an extension cord from the band, and Jerry rushed over to help her up. They talked all night, and on March 18, 1977, they were married in Wichita, Kansas.

As an interior design engineer, Jerry worked for several aircraft companies, contributing to numerous models of planes, primarily private aircraft. His projects even included a helicopter for Arnold Palmer and a jet for Tom Cruise. He took great pride in his work and in everything he did, with an incredible eye for detail. He would even order a sample of the glassware he recommended for the bar on a private jet just to make sure it was exactly right.

That attention to detail served him well professionally. The only time it became a bit of a problem was if he was on your Pictionary team. While the rest of us might scribble something barely resembling the word, he would create the entire scene. If the word was “bottle,” he wouldn’t simply draw a bottle. He’d add the island, the sand, a palm tree, the waves, and finally a bottle floating in the water. We had already guessed the word “bottle” long before he finished, but we always let him complete his masterpiece!

There wasn’t much he wouldn’t do for Janet, including renting a sailboat at the Ninnescah Yacht Club even though he had never sailed before! That was a little secret he only shared with us at Janet’s funeral in December. Sailing soon became something they both loved, and eventually they bought a boat of their own, appropriately naming it Therapy. They spent most of their years together in Texas, living on Lake Conroe.

Recently, he shared that anytime a job opportunity meant moving, or even when he decided he wanted to start his own company, Janet never hesitated. Her answer was always, “Let’s go!”

So years later, when Janet told him, “I want to move back to Wichita near my mom,” there was really only one answer. “Let’s go!”

His humor, concern for others, and incredible talent will be greatly missed.

But as much as we will miss him here, we are excited for him to be back with the love of his life. Jerry, we’re pretty sure Janet will be there waiting for you, ready to tell you EXACTLY what to do!

We love you!

He was preceded in death by his wife Janet (Moeder) Dalrymple; and is survived by his daughters, Jill Dalrymple and Julie Mitchell, and in-laws/aka his siblings, Quentina Bevan, Christine (Tim) Jacobs, Celestine (Nora) Moeder, Reena Crisler, Quentin (Sonya) Moeder, Kent Moeder, Judy (Dan) Wendell, and Jadean Morrow.

Visitation with family and a Prayer of the Holy Rosary will take place on Friday, September 18, 2026 from 5-7 PM at Hillside Funeral Home West, located at 2929 West 13th Street North, Wichita, KS 67203. The Prayer of the Holy Rosary will begin at 6 PM.

A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at Christ The King Catholic Church, 4411 W. Maple St., Wichita, KS 67209.

Inurnment with Military Honors will immediately follow Mass at Resurrection Cemetery, 1640 N. Maize Rd., Wichita, KS 67212.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you donate in Jerry's memory to The Lord's Diner, online at https://give.catholicdioceseofwichita.org/the-lords-diner or by mailing a check to The Lord's Diner, 520 North Broadway, Wichita, KS 67214.