IN MEMORY OF COL. MERLYN EUGENE NIGHTENGALE known to all as “Gene” Nov 22,1931- Dec 08, 2022.

Laid to rest Arlington National Cemetery Oct 03, 2024 Memorial Chapel Service- Full Military Honors

Born in Ada, Minnesota to Walter Merlyn Nightengale and Isla (Boles) Nightengale, Gene grew up living the simple, idyllic life of a small-town boy bent on adventure and experiencing life to the fullest. He kept an open heart throughout his life, making friends easily wherever he went. Those whose lives he touched knew Gene above all as a caring, generous, and loyal friend. His smile and laugh were infectious; his optimistic outlook was contagious.

Gene leaves behind his devoted and loving wife of thirty-three years Kaye (Clohset) Nightengale; his three children: son Bob (Caryn) Nightengale, daughters Laurie (Barre) Blackiston and Jill (Dan) Strietelmeier. He took pride in seeing his children become successful adults–each self-reliant, committed to their families, and admired by their peers. Gene will dearly miss his eight grandchildren and their spouses: Brett, Bobby (Charlene), Blaire (Jack), Brian (Chelsea), DJ, Trent, Nikki, and Scott. They were his special treasures as were the great-grandchildren he just barely knew. And, of course, Gene will miss his sister Mary (David) Stark with whom he shared a deep bond. Gene and Mary were truly kindred spirits. Not to be forgotten are Mary’s daughter Kerry and son Mike Heinrich who brought such merriment into their uncle’s life. Gene leaves behind many fond memories of family, friends, and colleagues both military and civilian. He is grateful for those memories and the life he was blessed to live.

A child of the Depression and deep poverty, Gene grew up with the expectation of working hard on the farm, whether it be learning to drive a potato truck at twelve or tarring roofs in the hot summer sun as a teenager. Nothing was too tough for him at any age. Taking off with his buddies for a weekend of building snow caves to live in during Minnesota’s brutal winter weather was not an unusual activity for Gene, just fun. His active youth prepared him later in life for the most challenging physical aspects of being a midshipman at the US Naval Academy (class of 1954), taught him “focus” as a US Air Force B-47 Strategic Air Command pilot and Aircraft Commander (1956-1962) during the height of the Cold War, and helped him make it through tough jungle survival training prior to leaving for Vietnam in 1970 at the age of 39. His time spent as Wing Flight Commander to young VNAFC-123Kpilots at Phan Rang and his own missions during a time of transition in the war were bolstered by the lessons of endurance learned in his youth. He was the proud recipient of the USAF Bronze Star and Air Medal.

Of Gene’s twenty years in the military, perhaps the ones spent at the Air Force Academy (1966-1970) were some of his most cherished. Gene thrived as Associate Professor of Mathematics teaching courses on all levels, all the while serving as Chief of the Enrichment program for advanced students and given the responsibility of creating and managing that curriculum. His mentoring of cadets was at the heart and soul of a lifelong dream, a dream begun in Gene’s decision to be commissioned to the Air Force along with one-fourth of his USNA fellow graduates in 1954. For Gene, the USAF promise to sponsor both his Masters and Phd degrees and the offer of immediate pilot training led to a life to which he was perfectly suited. He earned both his degrees M.S.E. 1964 and Ph.D 1966 at Arizona State University. In civilian life, twice Gene happily returned to his love of mentoring university students, first at the University of Denver’s Graduate School of International Studies (1973-1974), and much later nearing his retirement years as professor at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo’s Department of Industrial Engineering (1991-1994). Love of mentorship and a talent for management characterized his military years and led to many career opportunities in civilian life.

Upon retirement in the US Air Force in 1974, Gene was named Director of State Planning and Acting State Budget Director for the State of Colorado (1974- 1977). His staff of 64 were charged with the overall planning, preparing, and administering of the Governor's executive budget as well as coordinating all things fiscal with many other departments and agencies of the state of Colorado. This door opened another career-enhancing opportunity to become Senior Science budget advisor to the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Intelligence, Denver (1977-1978). Later in 1978 Gene welcomed a new challenge when named Manager, Wind Systems Project Operations, Rockwell International where he remained till 1981. Before leaving Colorado for California in 1982, Gene was called back to Arizona State University by the Dean to assist him as temporary advisor at a time of rapid campus expansion and burgeoning enrollment (1981-2).

Arriving in the California Bay Area , Gene continued his strong involvement in wind energy development and spent the next few years in this exciting new field– from the initial planning stage, to land acquisition, onsite construction, and the negotiation of contracts with the utility company PG&E. With the closing of this page of civilian life in 1990, Gene returned to mentoring young engineers once again at Cal Poly in Central California (1991-1994)--back to his original love of teaching as in the days spent at the Air Force Academy. But once again, change beckoned when Gene was tempted by the exciting opportunity to move across the world and experience life living and working in a foreign country– one last childhood dream come true. In 1995, Gene (as a Project Director in the Infrastructure Department of a large investment company) moved with his wife Kaye to Hong Kong and remained there until his eventual retirement in 2001 at the age of 69. His fondest memories will be of all the young Hong Kong associates he met and mentored in those final fulfilling years as a civilian.

Returning to the United States and California, Gene and Kaye settled down to a quieter life enjoying the simple pleasures of life: visiting family and renewing old friendships, getting to know the growing grandchildren, traveling to places near and far, exploring America’s astonishing national parks, and especially exploring the beautiful coastline of Northern California during many stays at favorite small inns and bed & breakfasts. Life had treated Gene well; he embraced every moment of it!