Jon Nehl
PAVE LOW Crew Chief
November 5th, 1972 - December 20th, 2012
MSgt Jon Philip Lee Nehl, 40, of Springfield, MO, born in Manhattan, KS, passed away after a battle with cancer.
Jon is survived by his wife Dana and their Daughter Willow of Milford, OH. His parents Patrick and Rachel Nehl of Springfield, MO, his brother Bryan Nehl and his wife Denise of Jefferson City, MO, his sister Marcellina (Nehl) Brown and her husband Leegin. His four nephews - Nathan, Daniel, Legend and Corbin and one niece - Rayna. His Grandmother Verena (Nehl) Sapp. Russ and Diane Fediuk his Father-in-law and Mother-in-law and a brother-in-law Russ D and his wife Beth and a sister-in-law MaryAna. Jon is also survived by many Aunts and Uncles. Beatrice Ayon, Virginia Perbeck, Frances and Leonard Myers and Joe Vera, Mary and Joe Yates, Theodore Vera of Bogata, Columbia, Frank and Debbie Vera, Gerald Nehl, Diane and Rick McCay, James Nehl, Sister Bernadette Nehl, FSPA and three Special Aunts - Pauline, Carmen and Anita Silva. And we can't forget Jeremy Rick Beck that Jon and his Brother Bryan did so much together while growing up and learning about life. A friendship that started in Boy Scouts went through High School and into the Military Service that continued until the Lord called Jon.
Jon graduated from Manhattan High School and attended Kansas State University for two years before joining the Air Force in 1993. He was still on active duty when the Lord gave him his next assignment. Jon loved his family, the Air Force and Mini Coopers, but always had time to give you a hand. The Air Force had sent Jon to England, Okinawa, Kuwait, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Romania and other countries.
The helicopter that Jon was the Crew Chief for, a Sikorsky MH-53M Pave Low IV, tail number 73-1649, that went on so many missions has been retired and is on display with Jon's name and his nose art painted on it in the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ. But, no matter where Jon was he would always touch the lives of those he came in contact with and they would be better for it. Jon had a wonderful sense of humor to the very end, even his last days in the hospital bed he made the Nurses laugh.
The family ask that a contribution for cancer research be made to an organization of your choice in Jon's name or a contribution to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ.
