Ernest "Ernie" Hasselbrink of Lynn Haven FL passed away on September 10, 2022. Ernie lived a full life with his second wife and love of his life Gabriele, the love of his children & grandchildren as well as his many friends in the Panama City area and through his West Point days and career in the USAF.

Ernie was born in 1935 in New York City, the son of German immigrants Ernest W. & Hermine (Mimi) Hasselbrink. The family moved to Dumont NJ, Syracuse, NY and finally to Elbridge, NY where Ernest & Mimi purchased and operated the Wayside Inn and Ernie & his younger brother Bob spent their "growing up" years. Ernie excelled in mathematics in high school and was appointed to the United States Military Academy at West Point where he majored in engineering. He graduated in 1958 and selected the US Air Force for his military career attending 18 months of flight schools in various locations including F-86 school at Perrin TX.  His early career included flying C-130's out of Evreux AFB, France. He was one of 15 candidates picked for a select highly specialized astronautics program at Edwards AFB, CA.  The program was canceled, and he completed the aerospace research pilot school at Edwards AFB.  He then spent five years at Tyndall AFB as a research/test pilot for the F-106.  After getting his Masters degree from UCLA in 1969, he worked on the Space Shuttle program at Los Angeles AFB, flew the F-4 at George AFB, flew in the TopOff program at Nellis AFB, flew various aircraft at Pudorn (Thailand), Clark AFB (Philippines), and Kirtland AFB (New Mexico).   Overall, he flew over 5,000 hours in over a dozen different military aircraft.   He spent the last 4 years of his Air Force career at the Pentagon, where he played an instrumental role advocating for the development of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network technology.  He retired from the USAF as a Lt. Col. and went to work in private industry at Northrop, and Loral Electro-Optical Systems.  Ernie eventually returned to government service with the US State Department in Heidelberg, where he participated in international arms-treaty-related inspections throughout Europe.

In 1992 while stationed in Heidelberg, Ernie met Gabriele (Gabi) at a party given by friends. Their relationship blossomed and Ernie asked Gabi to go to the US with him.  They were married on April 29, 1995 and lived in Alexandria, VA for a few years before Ernie retired. Ernie and Gabi moved to his dream retirement ever since being stationed at Tyndall in the Panama City area.   Ernie enjoyed boating and fishing, and many of the other local sunshine activities.  Ernie and Gabi met many new friends through the area Newcomer's Club and the German Club, and have valued their deep friendships here in the Panama City area community ever since.

Ernie is survived by his loving wife Gabriele, his sons with his first wife, Charlie (Alex), Roger (Kendra)and Dan and grandchildren Lucy, Abby & Jasmine as well as his stepdaughter Nicole Stalf (Matthias) and grandsons Christoph & Benjamin.

A memorial for Ernie will be held on Tuesday, September 20, 2022 at 2 p.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel.  The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1-2 p.m. prior to the service.

Burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to:  https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org