Obituary of Hans Joerg Neugebauer

Hans Joerg Neugebauer

June 7, 1937 – May 1, 2020

Hans Neugebauer died on Friday, May 1, 2020.  He was born on June 7, 1937 in Berlin, Germany, the son of Hans Karl and Liselotte (Lentz) Neugebauer.  He married Susan Hitchcock, formerly of East Jewett, on October 14, 1972.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Susan, who lives in Melbourne, FL; a sister, Heidi, and a niece, Bettina, in Berlin, Germany; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He was predeceased by his parents, a sister, Christel Neugebauer Otto, and a niece Barbara Otto.

Before emigrating from Germany, he received his education at the Canisius-Kolleg, a Jesuit School, and then served four years in the German Navy.  He enjoyed the distinction of having served on Germany’s last coal-burning minesweeper.  After arriving in the United States, he joined the United States Air Force.  He earned a college degree and was commissioned an officer in 1971.

For the next 10 years, he served in assignments in Vietnam, Texas, Nebraska and Germany.  He obtained two Master’s degrees, one from Southwest Texas State University and the other from George Mason University.  His true vocation was teaching German to high school students and individuals who wanted to speak the language.

After retiring to the Catskill Mountains, he served in the New York Guard, Air Division, and was commended for having served with distinction in support of joint military operations, in the aftermath of the World Trade Center Disaster.

He moved to Florida in 2002. When able he attended the Faith Viera Lutheran Church and was a member of many organizations including the Military Officers Association of America, Cape Canaveral Chapter; Veterans of Foreign Wars; American Legion and Masonic Lodges in New York, Mountain Lodge #529, and in Florida, Harbor City Lodge #318.

Interment will be private in upstate New York.