Arlene Ella Pankratz
Arlene Ella Pankratz Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (jostfuneralhome.com)
June 15, 1924 - October 28, 2021
Durham - Arlene Pankratz, 97, passed away October 28, 2021 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro. She was born June 15, 1924 to William and Leah (Schuber) Hamm of Durham, Kansas.
She married Paul Pankratz February 11, 1945 in Durham.
Survivors include: son Ken Pankratz of rural Durham; daughter Donna (Tim) Diener of Hillsboro; four grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren; brother Gus Hamm of Hillsboro; sister Marcella Mohn of Hillsboro.
Predeceased by: husband, Paul Pankratz in 2011; daughter Sherilyn Kadel in 2014; brother Gaylord Hamm.
Celebration of Life 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at Durham Baptist Church officiated by Rev. Jose Eston Cruz. Committal service 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Durham Park Cemetery, rural Durham. Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Monday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro.
Memorials to Durham Baptist Church or Parkside Home in care of Jost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 266, Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.
Life Sketch taken from the Funeral Bulletin
Arlene Ella (Hamm) Pankratz was born June 15, 1924 to William “Bill” and Leah (Schuber) Hamm. She passed away October 28, 2021 at Parkside Homes in Hillsboro.
She was raised on the family farm northwest of Durham with her brothers Gaylord and Gus and sister Marcella. She attended Red Top Elementary School and graduated from Durham High School in 1943. After high school she was employed at Franz Grocery in Durham for wo years.
At age 16 she accepted Jesus as her savior and was baptized and joined the Durham Baptist Church where she remained a member until her death. She served as a Sunday school teacher, scripture memory director and was a member of Kings Daughters. Arlene was also the church custodian for more than 35 years.
On February 11, 1945, Arlene married Paul Pankratz. They made their home west of Durham for two years and then moved to the Pankratz family farm northwest of Durham where they lived for 46 years before semi-retiring and moving to Hillsboro. They were married 66 years and had three children – Ken, Sherilyn and Donna.
Arlene spent many hours in her yard and garden and canning the produce she grew. She also cared for the chickens, milked the cows and helped with many other farm chores. She served as a 4-H leader and was a member of EHU. She was a Hillsboro school bus driver for 21 years and also worked as a custodian. She enjoyed preparing meals for her family and was always willing to help out a neighbor. In her retirement years she made quilts for her family and did much sewing.
Arlene is survived by son Ken of rural Durham, daughter Donna (Tim) Diener of Hillsboro, son-in-law David (Jean) Kadel of Randall; sister Marcella Mohn and brother Gus (Mildred) Hamm both of Hillsboro; granddaughters Jennifer (Jeff) Price of Arvada, CO, Holly (John) Burleson of Oklahoma City, OK, Emily (Kent ) Nichols of Hesston and Marissa (Shane) Slief of Wichita; greatgrandchildren Austin, Alex and Ashton Price, Olivia Foster, Jack and Claire Nichols, Hudson Slief; sisters-in-law Valera Hamm of Durham and Althea Zimmerman of Weaubleau, MO.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Gaylord, husband Paul, daughter Sherilyn Kadel, brother-in-law Oliver Mohn, nephew Bob Haug and greatnephew Christian Mohn.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to family and friends for their prayers, cards, food and other acts of kindness shown to us at this time. A special thanks to the Parkside Homes staff for their care of Arlene these past 3½ years.
Memorials may be given to the Durham Baptist Church or Parkside Homes.
The family would like to invite everyone to stay for lunch which will be served in the fellowship hall.
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