Charles Harry Nierling

Chuck was born in Winona, MN on 13 December 1941. From there he has lived and was raised in Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Illinois where he enlisted in the Navy on 24 February 1960 to become a signalman.

His 30-year adventure in the Navy began in February 1960 at boot camp in San Diego, CA and ended in March 1990 at NETPDC Pensacola, FL and retired as a Master Chief Signalman. During his 30-year career he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, six Good Conduct medal, fourteen Vietnam Service Stars.

Chuck had many sea duty stations on ships in 1960 MSB-16, 1962 USS Albatross MSC-289, 1964 USS Woodpecker MSC-209, 1966 USS Persistent MSO-491, 1968 USS Surfbird ADG- 383, 1973 USS Wabash AOR-5, 1981 USS Enterprise CVN-65.

Chuck's shore duty stations were 1970 NAS Key West, FL, 1978 Service School Command Orlando, FL, 1984 NETPDC Pensacola, FL.

While his rate was as a signalman, he also served as Command Career Counselor aboard USS aboard USS Wabash, military police at NAS Key West, CS Division Officer & KENT TV3 news anchor aboard USS Enterprise, master instructor at NTC Orlando.

After retirement from the Navy, Chuck went into law enforcement and was a Corrections Officer for the Escambia County Department of Corrections for over 7 years.

He then moved his employment to ECAT (Escambia County Area Transportation) as a bus operator, then advanced to Operations Manager. He retired from ECAT in May 2008 and became a full-time tennis bum.

Chuck was an avid and competitive player of sports. While in the military he played in various sports and in 1980 he was named Athlete of the Year when stationed in Orlando. He did not like to lose and won several awards and trophies in bowling, softball, racquetball and tennis.

Chuck is survived by his daughter, Margaret Ann and son, Braydan; and step children Christopher and Chanel. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Francis Nierling and his father Harry M Neirling.

A service to celebrate Chuck's life will be held on Friday, February 7th at 1:00PM at Oak Lawn Funeral Home, 619 New Warrington Rd, Pensacola, FL 32506. Then followed with a committal service at Barrancas National Cemetery at 2:30PM.

In honor of his generous spirit and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Pensacola Humane Society, Escambia County Animal Shelter, Seacrest Wolf Preserve, or any animal shelter of your choosing. Chuck was a great animal lover. He adopted many dogs and cats and wolves had a special place in his heart.