Norman C. Pankow

Norman Charles Pankow, age 87, passed away peacefully on Saturday, November 20, 2021, in Harlingen, Texas. Norm was born in Chicago in 1934 and was raised in and around Westmont and Lockport, Illinois. He was an Air Force veteran and a longtime resident of Rockford, Illinois before retiring to south Texas.

Norm was a happy, kind, generous and remarkable person who was born with an insatiable zest for life. He was eternally optimistic and seized every day like a gift. Norm had various jobs throughout his working life, but he was most proud of Pankow Trucking, his Chicago area trucking company. Work was important to Norm, but his true passion was as a volunteer and leader in various organizations including the Homer Township Volunteer Fire Department, the Knights of Columbus, CHIP (Coronary Health Improvement Program), St. Rita’s Catholic Church in Rockford, the Harlingen Citizen’s Police Academy and most recently as a founding member of the Sunshine RV Resort Neighborhood Watch chapter in Harlingen. He worked tirelessly to make sure these organizations succeeded and thrived. Norm played Santa hundreds of times since the mid-1960’s, providing holiday memories for thousands of children.

Norm was equally passionate about his many hobbies and interests. He was a single engine commercial pilot, an avid outdoorsman who loved camping and fishing, an excellent cook who also enjoyed eating out, and a master at fixing just about anything. Norm and his wife June were the proud owners of a motor home which they used to travel all across the continental United States, Canada and Alaska, often with grandchildren along for the ride. Norm loved to attend sporting events of any kind, but he was especially devoted to the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis 500. He cherished spending time with family and his enormous circle of friends, and he loved to gather with them for holidays, birthdays, or just because.

Norm is survived by his daughter, Beverly Sneddon, son in law, Paul Sneddon, his grandchildren, Mallory Seagraves, Olivia (Morgan) McMeel, Blake Seagraves, Sara (Andrew) LaBelle, Tanya Boyer and his first great-grandchild, 9-day old Franklin Knox McMeel. Norm is also survived by his loving companion Susan Lanier, his niece Michele Pankow and nephew Larry (Marissa) Pankow and their children, as well as numerous other nieces, nephews and other relatives. Norm was preceded in death by his loving wife of 63 years, June (née Welter) Pankow, father Lawrence Pankow, mother Evelyn (née Seidel) Pankow, step mother Jennie (Schoonveld) Pankow, brother Sheldon “Bud” Pankow and last but not least, his beloved Shih tzu Heidi.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Fitzgerald Funeral Home & Crematory, 1860 S. Mulford Road, Rockford, Illinois 61108. He will be laid to rest at Resurrection Cemetery in Romeoville, Illinois the following day, Thursday December 2, at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made in Norm’s name to Sunshine RV Resort Neighborhood Watch or to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. To send online condolences, please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com

GO BEARS.