Marcus George Pankow

Marcus George Pankow

February 11, 1935 - June 18, 2025

Marcus was called to his eternal home on June 18, 2025 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born on February 11, 1935 to Ted and Frieda Pankow on a small farm that is now Harnishfeger Park in Ixonia, Wisconsin. He was received shortly thereafter into God’s kingdom of grace through Holy Baptism. He attended Sugar Island public school for two years, and St. John’s Lutheran School in Ashippun for six years. Marcus attended Concordia Lutheran High School in Milwaukee for three years and graduated from Oconomowoc High School in 1953.

Marcus enrolled at Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. He soon met Carolyn Geiger, who became the love of his life. After a year of teaching in New Orleans, he graduated with a BA in Education in 1958. He married Carolyn in July 1958.

Marcus taught grades 7 and 8 for two years at Christ Memorial Lutheran School in Milwaukee. In 1960 he became the teaching principal, and served as such for six years.

In 1966, Marcus completed his MA in Education and became teaching principal at Trinity Lutheran School in Merrill, Wisconsin. He served there for 34 years.

Marcus loved the Lord, his wife and family, and the people he was called to serve. He especially enjoyed sharing the Gospel with the unique personalities of the 1100 eighth-graders he taught.

Marcus joins his beloved wife Carolyn, who was called to be with the Lord in 2023. He is survived by his son Matt (Rose) and their children Jake (Tracie), Rebecca (Heston Swallow), Angelina (Angelo Guariglia), Danny (Maggie), and Sarabeth; son Eric (Elizabeth) and their children Lauren (Tim Ferguson), Alex, and Ethan (Hannah); and son Jim (Megan) and their children Ben and Carson; and seven great-grandchildren, Penelope, Maxwell, Louise, and Francine Swallow; Joey Pankow; Isaiah Ferguson; and Jane Pankow. He was preceded in death by brothers Ben, David, and Kenneth. He is survived by sister Eunice (Rev. Dan Westendorf).

A funeral service for Marcus will be held on Monday, July 7, 2025 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Oconomowoc. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 8:00 AM until the time of the service at 11:00 AM.

Memorial donations may be given to Trinity Lutheran School in Merrill (611 W. Main St., Merrill, WI 54452) or St. Paul’s Lutheran School in Oconomowoc (210 E. Pleasant St., Oconomowoc, WI 53066).

To watch a livestream of the service, please click on the link below:

https://www.youtube.com/live/Y8RyVTHl2BU