Jerrold Entile was a veteran of both the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army, and was honorably discharged from both. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1957 and was discharged with the rank of PVT in 1960. In 1961 he enlisted in the Army, achieving the rank of PV2 before his discharge in 1964. Estranged from his family, he was widowed in late 2005 and his wife's death had deeply saddened him. Recent financial difficulties forced him out of retirement and in his final few months he had taken work as a security guard. With a history of cardiac problems he had been receiving medical care at Hines VA Hospital from November 1997 through November 2005. Living alone, Jerrold's body was found on April 12, 2006 in the bed of the one-bedroom Batavia apartment where he had lived since 1995 after his downstairs neighbor noticed his apartment had been silent for several days. It is suspected he died in his sleep from a heart attack around April 10, but no one is certain.
With services provided by Blake-Lamb Funeral Home in Lisle, Jerrold received a funeral service with full military honors through Dignity Memorial's Homeless Veterans Burial Program. He was the 30th veteran from the Chicago area and the 420th nationally to be interred through this Program.
The funeral service was held on Friday, May 26, 2006, attended by about 25 people. Retired Army Major General Bill Branson began the service. A bagpiper played "Flowers of the Forest" and ROTC students from Chicago's Senn High School presented the folded flag from Jerrold's coffin to Mayor Joe Broda of Lisle. After the service, Kay Castle, the manger of his Batavia apartment complex, said "I'm sure he would have appreciated that because sometimes you feel like you're overlooked and forgotten. I know he was disappointed with some times in his life but I think that time in his life in the service definitely meant something to him."
Interment took place on Tuesday, May 30, 2006.
Obituary appeared in the Chicago Tribune on May 24, 2006.