Memorial for Col Carol Nuss, wife of Dave Nuss
Col Carol Nuss burial service.
Memorial for Col Carol Nuss, wife of Dave Nuss
Friday afternoon, 27 January 2023, we gathered at the USAF Academy Cemetery for a graveside service for Colonel Carol Nuss, USAF Retired. The weather was nice, for a late January afternoon. The temperature was in the low 30s, but without wind, conditions were tolerable even though snow had just been removed general from the area. The clear air and the partly cloudy skies gave me some of the best sky backgrounds I have taken during services. We missed the polar air that came in on Saturday giving us sub-zero overnight conditions for the weekend.
Carol was the wife of our classmate, Dave Nuss. She had risen through the ranks of the Air Force Medical Corps and outranked Dave as a Colonel by about two years. When we gathered on 4 November for Dave`s Memorial Service, we learned that Carol had passed earlier in that week. So we gather again at the site where Dave and his four-year-old daughter, Jennifer Marie, are interred.
Carol had quite a distinguished career in the Air Force from 1969 to 1991. Her overall specialty became Med Evac, and she became one of the Military Airlift Command`s top experts in aeromedical evacuation, which came of age during the War in Southeast Asia.
Carol`s sister, Sharon, and her husband, Dave, attended. Many of us met Dave and Sharon in November at Dave Nuss`s Memorial Service. They were accompanied by Jennifer Gray, (Jen}, a niece from Texas. I was surprised to learn from Dave that Jen is a retired Navy Chief.
Ten of Dave`s classmates in the Class of 1963 along with 4 wives were present.
Carol`s service had a few moments of recognition that she was one of the wives who participated in the creating of our class flag back in the 1990s. Bob Hayes brought that class flag forward and draped it over Carol`s bier for a little while. Then Sharon helped hold the flag up for some good pictures of it.
Memorial for Dave Nuss
Burial service for Dave Nuss
Memorial for Dave Nuss
On Friday morning, 4 November 2022 we gathered at United States Air Force Academy Cemetery for a 10 a.m. memorial service for David Nuss, USAF Academy Class of 1963. Sadly, upon arrival most of us learned that Dave’s widow, Carol, had passed away on Thursday evening. So, we expect to return in the not-too-distant future to Dave’s gravesite for a memorial service for Carol.
You’ll see from the pictures we had a bright sunny day. The pictures also suggest it was a cold sunny Friday in early November. When we arrived, the temperature probably was in the upper 20s. Those wearing caps that covered ears, such as Dave’s granddaughter, Skyler, Dave’s sister, Kathie, and Charlie Ann Hayes, were more appropriately dressed for the weather than most of us. The wind picked up some during the service, which made it more of a challenge.
Dave spent 27 years in the Air Force, primarily as a civil engineer, before retiring in 1990. Dave and his wife, Carol, moved back to Colorado Springs in 1994. He continued working on construction projects and teaching. Over the last 15 years, Dave spent several months a year in South Africa.
Dave’s three sons and other family members attended the service along with nine of Dave’s classmates and two of their spouses. I will provide all the names later when I talk some about the pictures.
Chaplain Ullman conducted Dave’s memorial service. Dave’s granddaughter Skyler came forward during the service with a reading in memory of Dave. Colonel Gruber represented the Academy in presenting Dave’s flag. Our own Charlie Ann Hayes presented condolences on behalf of the USAF Academy Ladies. The USAFA Honor Guard did a great job, as usual, presenting military honors.
Family members in the front row from left to right: Granddaughter Skyler Nuss, Son Stephen Nuss, Dave’s sister, Kathie Siegman, son Kevin, and Tammy and son David A. Nuss. Carol’s sister Sharon and husband Dave Kay are a couple of rows back on the left. In the group pics afterward, you’ll see all of them.
Jimmie Butler