Ethan Allen Bergschneider, 87, of Merritt Island, Florida, passed away at 9:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at Cape Canaveral Hospital, Cocoa Beach, Florida.
Ethan was born in Levasy, Missouri on January 15, 1931, the son of Herbert Henry and Gladys (Ryan) Bergschneider. On July 20, 1954, he was united in marriage to Mona Jean Bergschneider at the First Christian Church of Buckner, Missouri.
Ethan joined the United States Air Force January 6, 1951. He enjoyed being a fighter pilot and then, later, an Aerospace Maintenance Director. After numerous moves to bases including Richards-Gebaur AFB in Missouri, McGhee Tyson AFB in Tennessee, Goose Bay AFB in Labrodor, Maxwell AFB in Alabama, Clark AFB in the Philippines, and Tyndall AFB, MacDill AFB, and Eglin AFB in Florida, he moved with his family to Brevard County in 1973 from Ft. Walton Beach, Florida, transferring to Patrick Air Force Base.
Ethan retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the United States Air Force on November 30, 1976, having served over 25 years; of which 6 years were spent on foreign soil. He served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. After retirement, he owned and operated Bergschneider Werke, an automotive and marine repair shop in Rockledge, Florida.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mona Jean Bergschneider; and two sons David Wayne Bergschneider and Barry Brian Bergschneider.
Ethan is survived by daughter Sherry Lynn Wallace and her husband Gary Wayne Wallace of Port St. John, Florida; son Gary Alan Bergschneider of Merritt Island, Florida; grandchildren Heather Ann Russ and her husband Major Cameron Holland Russ of Navarre, Florida; Ryan Malcolm Doyle and his wife Racheal Rhiannon Doyle, of Rockledge, Florida; Laura Lynn Spellmeyer, and her husband Joel F. Spellmeyer, of Rockledge, Florida; great grandchildren Carly Annalise Russ, 14, Ella Grace Russ, 12, Zachary David Russ, 7, Alivia Rielle Spellmeyer, 8, Jack Malcolm Doyle, 7, and Camilla Rhiannon Doyle, 3.
Ethan is also survived by one sibling, Donna Battles of Buckner, Missouri; sister-in-law Leanna Bergschneider of Austin, Texas; and brother-in-law John Wulfekammer of Joplin, Missouri. He was preceded in death by his brother, Beryl Bergschneider of Austin, Texas; sister Sharon Wulfekammer of Joplin, Missouri; and brother-in-law Larry Battles of Buckner, Missouri.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Ethan’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m., June 16, 2018 at Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Merritt Island. Interment will take place in Buckner, Missouri on June 23, 2018. Military honors will be held at both services.
