Jennie Pankow

Rockford Jennie Pankow, 88, of Rockford (formerly Lockport) died Friday, October 31, 2008 at OSF St.  Anthony Medical Center after a short illness.  Born September 2, 1920 in Cicero, Illinois to Albert and Nellie (Niemeyer) Schoonveld, Jennie married Lawrence Pankow in 1946 and they resided in Lockport (Homer Township).  Jennie was a member of the Lockport  St.  Pauls Lutheran Church and Ladies Aid Society,  the Sjogrens Syndrome Foundation and an Honorary Member of the Northwest Homer Fire Department and Ladies Auxiliary.  Jennie retired from Reynolds Metals in 1978 after 25 years of service.  In 2003 she moved to Rockford.  Jennie loved crafts and crocheting, and many family, friends, and charitable groups benefited from her hand-made afghan blankets.  Jennie has many friends and relatives who will miss her frequent cards, letters and phone calls.   Survived by son Norman (June) Pankow of Rockford,  sisters Anna (Bill, deceased) Hoekstra,  Pearl (Joseph) DeRuiter,  grandchildren Beverly (Paul) Sneddon,  Debra (Mark) Wetstein,  Michele Pankow,  Larry Pankow,  ten great-grandchildren,  twelve great-great grandchildren,  many nieces,  nephews,  cousins,  and friends.  Predeceased by her parents, husband Lawrence A.  Pankow who passed in 1969, son Sheldon (Bud) S.  Pankow, brothers Abel and Clarence, sisters Harriet Vogel, Helen Marek and Henrika Van Dyke and granddaughter Susan (Pankow) Wade.   Funeral Service will be Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. in St.  Pauls Lutheran Church, 1500 S.  Briggs St. Lockport, Illinois 60441 with Rev.  Heim officiating. With burial at Mt.  Vernon Memorial Cemetery, Lemont, IL. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday November 3, 2008 at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory 1860 S.  Mulford Rd., Rockford, Il. 61108.  Memorials may be made to St.  Pauls Lutheran Church, Sjogrens syndrome Foundation, American Cancer Society or American Heart Association.  Online condolences may be sent to www.fitzgeraldfh.com .