Alan William Minnig

1955 - 2021

Alan William Minnig, of Schuylkill Haven, passed away suddenly Tuesday at his home.

Born Aug. 2, 1955, in Pottsville, he lived his childhood years in Tremont. He was a son of the late William and Shirley Schrope Minnig.

Alan was a graduate of Pine Grove Area High School and Penn State University.

Alan began his career in aviation with flight lessons at Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport at age 14. His impressive career of more than 36,000 flight hours and more than 1,800 Atlantic crossings began by humbly flying pheasants to Canada and towing gliders in Happy Valley. He flew through various mergers of Pennsylvania Airlines, New York Air and Continental Airlines, culminating in 2013 with United Airlines, his high school yearbook ambition. He captained seven different airliners, retiring from full-time flying in Boeing 777 as a line check airman. After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, he completed DHS Federal Law Enforcement training, becoming a flight deck enforcement officer, to ensure the safety of his passengers.

He was currently working at CAE Inc. in the training department and as a consultant. He also served on the board of directors for Schuylkill County Airport Authority. Alan was an avid fly fisherman and sportsman, always enjoying spending time outdoors, particularly in Callicoon, N.Y.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Neil Minnig, and is survived by his wife, Dr. Melissa Ann Burke; his son, William (Billy) Minnig, a sophomore at Villanova University; his daughter, Saragrace Minnig, a junior at Schuylkill Haven Area High School; his sister, Ellen Reigel; uncle-at heart, Dalton Schaadt; aunts, Mary Frew and Sylvia Eisenaucher; uncles, Dick Minnig and Skip Schrope; cousins, nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at Bartashus Funeral Home, New Philadelphia. Friends may call at an open house from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Minnig residence. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes memorial contributions to be made to National Wild Turkey Federation or Schuylkill Community Foundation, also accepted at the funeral home. Donations can be given directly to the family or at the funeral home.