USAF Lt. Col. Ferdinand (Fred) Simanek, 88, soared to heaven on eagle's wings on April 5, 2017. He was a native of New York, NY. Among his flight duties he served as pilot and Aircraft Commander for the Military Air Transport Service transporting servicemen and civilian passengers to Vietnam, and returning deceased servicemen to the USA. Fred spent five years building a Glasair 3 Experimental Aircraft, and then he flew it for five years before it was sold. He was the consummate Aviator, and well known for his innovation, creative inventions and unique problem solving skills.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Simanek, a daughter, a son, two stepchildren, eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, April 19, at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, FL. Memorial donations may be made to Wuesthoff Hospice House of Rockledge, or the American Cancer Society.