In his memory:

Alwin E. Morsch
VFP-62 circa 1963-66

Updated: May 18, 2023

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Memories and Tributes

Obituary





Alwin E. "Al" Morsch, age 73, passed away on August 28, 2015 in Jacksonville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday September 3, 2015 in Assumption Catholic Church, 2403 Atlantic Blvd., with Fr. Michael J. Larkin as Celebrant. Interment will follow with Military Honors at Jacksonville National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Rocky Morsch, William Morsch, Dr. George Trotter, Dr. Gunnar Miller, Michael Lester, William Starke Pharm B, Jim Young and Bruce Kendeigh. The family will receive friends for visitation on Wednesday September 2, 2015 from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. in George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home, 4140 University Boulevard South, with a Vigil Service/Rosary to be held at 6 p.m.

Al was born in Newark, New Jersey on April 17, 1942 to Alwin A. & Agnes V. Morsch. He served proudly in the United States Navy and later retired after a long career as a Sales Representative with Abbott Laboratories. A resident of Jacksonville for many years, Al was a longtime member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church and then Assumption Catholic Church.

Mr. Morsch is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Sheila B. Morsch; his son, Rocky Morsch (daughter-in-law, Amber); a granddaughter, Madison Marie Morsch; a brother, William Morsch (Kathleen); a sister, Rosemary Digilio (Joseph) and many extended family members & friends.




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Webmaster: Greg Engler AT2 (aviation electronics technician) remembers Alwin: "On our first time on the flight deck for flight ops we were standing between two of our birds when they signaled the forward most plane, on our left, to taxi forward towards the cats. When he pulled forward and turned left that put his exhaust on both of us. It was hot and powerful and we both skidded and ended up in the catwalk.

The second sea story was during night ops. He was following me on the flight deck in the dark, red lights only. We were passing on the side of the island and I noticed an open hatch with fuel hoses coming out, with only red lights down below to guide us. Naturally I stepped to the side going around the hatch and went on, stopping a few feet later. I turned looking for Al to mention something (perhaps the open hatch) and he was gone. He had found the open hatch but didn't see it or step around it either. He climbed out about a minute later and we went on to see whatever we were out there to see.

He was an ATN too and at the time was an E3 or E4. He worked in the electronics pool repairing electronics equipment for the planes for the second half of the cruise, while I worked there the first half.

I also [had an accident with] electricity in the pool when a ground wire broke off in the connector of a TACAN that I had just repaired. When I pulled the connector the ground return was broken and it used me for the return path. I couldn't open my hand or move my elbows, but could talk through clenched teeth and turn with my hips. That allowed the TACAN to come out of the rack and broke the circuit that I had just become a part of. The TACAN crashed to the floor hitting the crystal turret and damaged it beyond repair. They were worth somewhere around $250,000 at the time.

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Updated 3/9/18