"To Evelyn and the Pankonin children. I knew your dad and all of you a long time. Great father - I'm sure you'll miss him. May God bless all of you. "
In loving memory of
Kermit Pankonin
October 23, 1922 - September 12, 2013
Kermit was born on October 23, 1922, in Jeffers, Minnesota to Fred and Ida (Saxton) Pankonin. Kermit worked many different jobs throughout his life. He created the Windom Wrecking Co. in 1956 until 1988 when he retired.
Kermit was a family man who loved to work, to hunt and fish. He was baptized on September 9, 1952. He married Evelyn Agatha Casey on July 19, 1941. They had five children. Kermit was preceded in death by his wife, who died on July 4, 1989. Kermit married Evelyn Soupir on March 13, 1992.
Kermit Elmer Pankonin, age 90, of Windom, died at his home on September 12, 2013.
He is survived by his wife Evelyn Pankonin of Windom; his children, Gene Pankonin and his wife, Donna, of Windom; Michael Pankonin and his wife Joy, of Windom; James Pankonin and his wife, Jean, of Windom; and Pamela Pankonin Stewart and her husband, Jeffrey, of Minneapolis; 15 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; three step-children, Jim Soupir and his wife, Karen, of Idaho; John Soupir of Hawaii; and Perry Willson and his wife, Anita, of Colorado.
Kermit is preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn; one daughter, Patsy Ann; and step-son, Rick Willson.
Blessed be the memory of Kermit Elmer Pankonin.
Tributes
"My thoughts, prayers are with the family as you lay him to rest. I have many childhood memories of Kermit & the Pankonin family. Kermit and my dad (Keith Wilson) were friends i am sure they are up in heaven telling stories. He will be miss Rhonda Curry / Wilson"
"This is a tribute to Grandpa Kermit. I am his first grandchild, Cindy. I called him Popo because I couldn't say Grandpa and it was passed on to all the grandkids. These are thoughts that just come to me as I cannot sleep tonight....His favorite candy bar was Snickers; we all took a turn walking on his back after he worked hard all day. He taught me how to do the two step. He was always gentle and never yelled. If he did get mad, he gave the famous "Kermy" look. He lost sight in one eye from not wearing his safety goggles but it didn't slow him down. Whenever he saw me he smiled and said "Cindy Mae!" I brought coffee out to the guys in the shop at 3:00 whenever I was around and he would be wearing his blue Dickey suit with a grease rag hanging out of his pocket. He always helped people. He had big hands from all his hard work and a heart to match. One of his famous lines was, "I bet you a dollar..." and "Well I'll be" among some other famous grandpa quotes. He loved his Copenhagen. He was loved by everyone he met. Enjoy your Heavenly peace Grandpa, you deserve it. We know you are saved. Love, Cindy"
"To everyone in Kermit's family, I have so many members growing up in the wrecking yard with all of you. Your dad always found some work for me, if I was broke which all of the time. Kermit was always good to me no matter what Jim and the rest of is kids where doing running wild in the back yard. I will miss your dad as he was one of the very few good guys that I have been lucky to have spent time with, as I was growing up. Jim, thinking of you and all of the Pank family. Your friend ! "
"YOU HAVE MY CONDOLENCES IM GOING TO MISS KIRMIT HE WAS A VERY FREINDLY PERSON, EVERY TIME I SEE HIM HE REMINDS ME OF MY DAD, LOVES TO TINKER WITH CARS, LAST TIME I SEEN HIM HE TRYED TO HELP ME WITH A TIRE I BOUGHT IN THE SHOP, TO FIX LAST WINTER, I BEEN GOING TO THE SHOP SENCE 86, BUYING PARTS, GOD BLESS, KIRMIT, AND, FAMILY, "
"To the Pankonin Family, My sympathy to you. It is hard to lose a loved one."
"Thoughts and prayers are with the Pankonin family. It seamed like every time I came out to the shop you would fine him tinkering on a project. He will be missed."
"Many memories of Kermit & the Pankonin families, our thoughts,prayers are with you as you lay him to rest, celebrate his life, holding in your hearts all the memories, knowing that thanks to Jesus we have eternal life! No more pain or suffering, With Love, Evie, Anita, Daren Leverenz"
" Thinking of our good Neighbors at Fish Lake ! My He rest in Peace!"
"Prayers and thoughts are with you all!"
"Thinking of the entire Pankonin family today and tomorrow as you say good bye to Kermit! "
"Dear Friends, Another Windom institution has left us. When someone said "Kermit", most people knew who they were talking about. He enjoyed a good long life. You have my sympathy on your loss."
"Someone would walk into the shop looking for rims, Kermit would take a grease rag out of his back pocket, wipe his hands, spit Copenhagen on the concrete floor, look out the back window with his one good eye and say "By golly, I think I do have a pair of those rims back along the fence line." My dad used to say that Kermit was the only man in Windom who drove a Cadillac who could actually afford it. True or not, it said something about the fruits of labor --and who deserved them. I worked right beside him many times and was always impressed by his easy familiarity with hard work. His knowledge of automatic transmission valve bodies still amazes me. He called me Clarky and I called him Kerm. I respected and admired him and will miss him greatly."
"My sympathies and prayer to the Pankonin family, Kermit was a good man who will be missed by many."
"Dear Gene and Donna and all the Pankonin family, Our deepest sympathy at the loss of Kermit. We know he is loved and will be missed by you all. Your family is in our thoughts and prayers."
"To all of Kermit family He will be miss"
"Jimmy, We ar so sorry to hea of your Dads death. We always enjoyed talking with him at the salvage yard. The Lords blessings be with you all as you celebrate his life! Dan and Kathy Beam"
"Michael & Joy: Sorry to learn of the death of your father, Michael. What a great long and wonderful life he had. My sympathy and condolences to your entire family."
"Sorry to hear Kermit passed away. May the Lord comfort you in these sad times."
"Thoughts and prayers to all friends and family during this time . And hopes you will cherish all the great memories you had of him."
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the family. I know Joy and Mike and also Lisa and Cindy and some of the other children and grandchildren. Remember that nobody can take away the memories that are in the heart and soul and mind and that now that he is in heaven with His Heavenly Father and preparing the house and waiting the Heavenly Father to call the rest home to be with him. Blessed Be His Name and to the Glory Be to God for it is from Him that we are born from and it is to Him that we return to. "
"Our thoughts and prayers are with you in the loss of your loved one. He was a great man to know! "
"To Evelyn and Kermit's family, So sorry to read of Kermit's passing. I know Ed had many a comversation about parts and engines and such over the years with Kermit. He will be missed."