Verna K. Pankratz, 94, formerly of Marshfield, died peacefully surrounded by her family on Saturday, March 19, 2016 at Care Partners Assisted Living, Stevens Point.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, March 26, 2016 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hewitt with Rev. Dean Pingel officiating. Burial will take place in St. Michael's Cemetery, Hewitt and serving as pallbearers will be Roger Christiansen, Christopher Christiansen, Brad Allar, Justin Hamus, Jared Heeg, and Chad Kolbeck. . The visitation will be held on Saturday from 9:30 am until service time at Immanuel Lutheran Church. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.
Verna was born on February 27, 1922 in Medford to Peter and Ella (Schwandt) Klumb. She was united in marriage to John A. Pankratz on May 4, 1946 at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Hewitt. He died on June 19, 2007.
Verna was a modest and quiet person. Even though she was quiet, she was proud of her accomplishments. She attended Dairy Belt school in the Town of Richfield and graduated from Pittsville High School as valedictorian of her class in 1940. Verna wanted to be a school teacher but instead was a wife and mother, teaching her various skills such as gardening, rug making, puzzles, sewing quilts, making potato dumplings and even her love of the farm.
Verna was very proud of her children and grandchildren and their many accomplishments. Although she did not tell them personally, she was ecstatic to have a teacher, excellent craftsmen, attorney, nurse, supervisor and networking engineer and often told others of them. Verna enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren who have memories of coloring Easter eggs, making hay, cutting wood and planting garden.
The Klumb family were the original owners of the land around what is now Richfield (North) Park. She had memories as a child of the various activities associated with living next to the park.
Verna had great faith in the Lord. Part of Verna's daily ritual was to read her bible and she really enjoyed Holy Week and its festivities. Verna made sure that her children were brought up with faith in their lives.
Verna is survived by her children, James (Juleen) Pankratz of Auburndale, Kenneth (Gayle) Pankratz of Marshfield, Beverly (Donald) White of Stevens Point, and Thomas (Eileen) Pankratz of Milladore. She is also survived by her grandchildren David Pankratz, Kevin Pankratz, Robert (Kathy) Pankratz, Jennifer (Jamie) Peskie, Garett (Shayna) Pankratz and Tiffany Pankratz; her step grandchildren, Todd and Troy Adler and Kyle and Erin White; her great grandchildren, Logan, Hunter and Ramsey Pankratz, Samantha and Shannon Peskie and Quentin and Myla Pankratz; and step great grandchildren, Laura, Katie, Jakob and Amaya Adler and Madison and Keegan White.
She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, sisters Ruth Klumb and Florence Christiansen, a brother Herman Klumb and a brother-in-law, Glenn Christiansen.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to Sarah Kolstad who always put a smile on Verna's face and helped all of us in her final days. Thank you to Care Partners especially the caring staff in her final journey.
The family will designate a memorial in Verna's name at a later date.
Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com
