Richard E Nensel

Richard "Dick" Nensel, a pathologist, entrepreneur, and caring family man, died May 14, 2026 at the University of Toledo Medical Center at 83 years old.

Born December 8, 1942 in Dallas, Texas to Emil and Eileen (Schueppert) Nensel, he grew up in Evansville, Indiana, and Elmhurst, Illinois. He graduated from Marquette University in 1964 and afterwards Marquette Medical School in 1968. He then completed his medical residency at the Cleveland Clinic. In 1966 he married Bernadine Schoenfelder and his son Phillip was born in 1968.

In 1972 he joined the Navy, serving at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago until 1975 when he moved to Toledo. There he worked at Toledo Hospital as a board-certified pathologist until 1987. During this time, he also served in the Ohio Air National Guard as a flight surgeon.

He founded Mid-Ohio Race Physicians, practicing emergency medicine and researching racing safety primarily at Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.

Richard founded TOL Aviation Inc. in 1979 and operated the full-service FBO (fixed base operation) at Eugene F. Kranz Toledo Express Airport until his death. “The Corporate Center” focuses on refueling and maintenance of corporate jets and small planes but also often serviced charters and large aircraft. He was very proud that he fueled the biggest planes that were at the airport, including Air Force One and airlines like Delta.

50 years ago on December 24, 1975 he married Alcinda Augustine, and they settled in Sylvania, Ohio where they had three daughters. A wonderful father and later grandfather, he was very caring and supportive, willing to do whatever anybody needed. He was adamant about the importance of family and thoroughly enjoyed taking them out for ice cream, helping them to ride bikes, build gingerbread houses, or color Easter eggs.

He passionately supported the education and career ambitions of his children and grandchildren, which range from engineering to interior design, from business to chemistry.

His personal hobbies included learning about, visiting, collecting and repairing automobiles. He did much of his own car maintenance and enjoyed attending car shows and car museums. Trains and model trains were also a passion of his, he liked train rides and visiting engines like the Big Boy.

Regardless of what it was, he wanted to know how things worked and how he could fix things. He would research and talk to people to learn everything he could on various topics - he had endless curiosity.

Richard also had a love of flying, mainly in his Cessna 182. During his time in the military, he also learned to fly helicopters. He was a 50 year member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

Surviving are his wife, Alcinda Nensel; son, Phillip (Sherri) Nensel; daughters Amelia Nensel, Anna (Leander) Wilcke, and April (Randal) Roberty; and seven grandchildren: Ashley, Jessica, and Heather Nensel; Aiden and Gavin Roberty; and Elodie and Lucien Wilcke. He is also survived by his sister Lois and brothers Donald, Timothy, and Thomas. He is preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will begin at 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 19, 2026 at Reeb Funeral Home in Sylvania, Ohio, where a funeral service will immediately follow at 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests tributes to the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, to a charity of the donor's choice, or plant a tree.

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