~ IN MEMORY ~
Navy veteran, WC/NWA Capt. HANS ERNST "ERNIE" PROSCH
April 15, 1940 - October 26, 2025
CAPTAIN HANS ERNST (ERNIE) PROSCH
Captain Hans Ernst (Ernie) Prosch, 85, entered into the presence of the Lord on
October 26, 2025. Friendly, welcoming, and approachable, Ernie was quick to
introduce himself or offer a helping hand to anyone in need. He was known,
among all who knew him, for his generosity. Born in San Francisco, California
on April 15, 1940, he was the second of three sons born to German immigrants,
Magdalena and Kurt Prosch. In 1947, they moved their sons Ernie, his older
brother, Robert (Bob), and younger brother Gerald (Jerry), from San Francisco's
Haight/Ashberry to a quaint residential community in San Lorenzo, California,
where they cultivated a permanent home and family life where Ernie and his
brothers would spend the remainder of their childhood.
Throughout his youth, Ernie, excelled in academics, particularly mathematics,
and began to foster his passion for aeronautics and his dream of becoming an
airline pilot. In junior high school, he started working at the local hobby
shop, which precipitated a lifetime of building award winning model airplanes;
his first honor of many, a 1st place trophy granted by the United States
Airforce Academy for all around best performing model airplane, was in 1955, at
15. In high school he began pilot training and obtained his pilot's license. He
joined the United States Navy in 1958 and, following his service, earned a
full-ride scholarship to Northrop Aeronautical Institute of Technology and
graduated with honors and degrees in aeronautical and astronautical
engineering.
He took a position with Boeing Corp. where he worked at Cape Canaveral as an
Inertial Guidance Specialist. In 1966, he hired on with West Coast Airlines as
a line pilot, and a few years later, was introduced to a stewardess within the
company, Linda, whom he married in 1970. They welcomed son, Hans, in 1971, and
daughter, Jodi, in 1974. His adventurous spirit led the family to engage in his
favorite hobbies together, most notably, boating, waterskiing, snow skiing,
fishing, shooting, playing piano, and flying model airplanes. He was a frequent
competitor at the Reno Air Races and built two award winning full size single
pilot Formula One Airplanes in the 1970's.
At age 60, after flying his last transpacific flight on the Boeing 747-400, he
hung up his captain's cap, and retired, in 2000, from Northwest Airlines.
Embracing retirement with inherent zeal, he could be found tickling the ivories
of his Steinway, spoiling his animals, calibrating his golf swing, designing,
and flying model airplanes with his antique model group, and continuing to soar
the skies piloting short domestic flights with family and friends in his
6-seater Aerostar airplane. Yet, to him, most importantly was spending time
with his beloved family and friends. Ernie was a loving, devoted, and
enthusiastic son, brother, father, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He will be
tremendously missed by all.
He is preceded in death by his parents, older brother Bob, and nephew Rob. He
is survived by his son, daughter, daughter-in-law Katharine, former spouse and
friend Linda, four grandchildren Emma, Gavin, Audrey, and Colin, brother Jerry,
nephews Eric and Jeremy, nieces Cheri and Valerie, four great nieces, and many
dear friends.
Funeral services: November 25, 2025, St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in
downtown Las Vegas, Nevada.
Interment: November 26, 2025, Southern
Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Boulder City, Nevada.
Las Vegas Review-Journal (NV) - Wednesday, January 28, 2026
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