Obituary of Steven Frank Nehlig

Steven Frank Nehlig,  age  77, passed away on September 11, 2019. He was born on September 25, 1942 to the late Frank Morton Nehlig and Roseanna Fox Nehlig at Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida.

The family of three spent the next years in southern California until his father left the Navy to pursue a career with American Airlines as a pilot.

Steven spent his grade school education at several schools in California, New York, Texas, and finally New Jersey.  He graduated high school from Rutgers Preparatory School in New Brunswick, New Jersey where he met his future wife, Valerie Ann Zajac.

Steven graduated from Rutgers University in 1964 with a degree in liberal arts and was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force.  He graduated Pilot Training in August, 1965, from Moody Air Force Base, Valdosta, Georgia.  Lt. Nehlig became a flight instructor in T-38 aircraft at Reese Air Force Base in Lubbock, Texas.

During his assignment at Reese, Steven had many cross country flights and renewed his relationship with Valerie, in New Jersey.  They were married in Lubbock on May 27, 1967.  Now, a Captain, Steven left the Air Force to join American Airlines, where his father was still an active pilot. In 2001, after thirty-three years with American Airlines, Steven finished his last year on the 777 Aircraft, flying to Paris, London, Tokyo and Buenos Aires.  After retirement, Steven and Valerie spent many years traveling the highways with the members of the Watchung Airstream Club.

Steven is survived by Valerie, his wife of 52 years, his son Steven Kurt Nehlig, and his wife, Dr. Susan Blackwell Nehlig of Franklin Township, Hunterdon County, New Jersey.

All services were held privately by the family.