1934
Donley
2007
Donley Pansch
October 27, 1934 — January 28, 2007
Donley Arthur Pansch was born on October 27, 1934 on a farm southeast of Odessa and according to legend, behind a lilac bush. He was the third son of Henry and Florence (nee Huizenga) Pansch. Donley attended school in Odessa through the 3rd grade, especially enjoying sledding down the hill near school. During the fall of 1943, the Pansch family moved to a farm south of Graceville and joined Mt. Olive Lutheran Church. Donnie was confirmed on May 9, 1948 by Pastor Mutterer. He enjoyed playing sports at Graceville High School and graduated in 1952.
After graduation Donnie worked on the family farm. He served in the United States Army from July 1955 through April 1957 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1955, Donnie rode a crowded bus for many hours and walked up the driveway to surprise his mother for Christmas. Upon his return from the armed forces, he continued farming and began to court Jean Oliver from his boat on Toqua Lake. Donley Pansch and Jean Oliver were married on March 26, 1960. On November 1, 1961, they moved to their new farm southeast of Johnson. Donley and Jean had 4 children: Clark Bennett, Laura Jean, Julie Kay, and Karl Richard. In the early 1960's, Donnie often trapped muskrats with his brother Ronnie in the sloughs. He also hunted pheasants with all his brothers.
Though he didn't especially favor traveling, Donnie and his family visited Florida several times. He also relaxed with Jean on the Hawaiian Islands in 1976. Donnie liked fishing, traveling 3 times to Canada and on various trips to Lake Michigan to catch salmon.
Donnie was an active citizen serving on the Town Board for 6 years and as a Big Stone County Commissioner beginning in 1972. He was on the Agassiz and Odessa Mutual Insurance Company Board, Golf Club Board, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Council, West Central Mental Health Board, Grace Home Board, and Main Street Industries Board.
Donnie and Jean sold their farm in the spring of 1983 and moved into Graceville. After moving to town, he began to golf more frequently. In 1985, Donnie, an avid bowler, bought Lane's Lanes Bowling Alley in Graceville, renaming it Don's Alleys. He bowled in tournaments in the area and in the Milwaukee/Chicago area in the early 1990's. He also participated in the ABC 1995 National Tournament in Reno, Nevada.
Donnie also loved spending time with his grandchildren. A favorite activity was taking them out for breakfast when they stayed overnight at Grandpa and Grandma's house. It made Grandpa a popular guy with all the grandchildren. He also handed out Tootsie Rolls when they bowled at Grandpa's bowling alley.
In the fall of 1995 he quit smoking, a nasty habit he picked up in the army, due to a bad case of pneumonia. Donnie later got emphysema, and as a result his health slowly deteriorated. He still enjoyed watching the Twins and Chicago Cubs play baseball on television. His advice to the players was that "if you don't swing the bat, you can't hit the ball."
Donley died on Sunday, January 28, 2007 of cancer at his home in Graceville, MN. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Florence Pansch and brother Ronald Pansch.
Donley is survived by his wife, Jean; 4 children, Clark, Laura (Greg) Athey, Julie (Leonard) Epple, and Karl; 8 grandchildren, Amanda, Nicole, Amber, and Jennifer Athey, and Karolina, Ethan, Mateja, and Renata Epple; 4 brothers, Roger (Rita), David (Ruth) Harlon (Carol), and Burton (Sharon); 1 sister, Birdie (Myron) Duin; and 4 in-laws, Carolyn Pansch, Gail and Jim LaFave, Bob and Marsha Oliver, and Joe and Jo Ann Oliver; and many other relatives.
After graduation Donnie worked on the family farm. He served in the United States Army from July 1955 through April 1957 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. In 1955, Donnie rode a crowded bus for many hours and walked up the driveway to surprise his mother for Christmas. Upon his return from the armed forces, he continued farming and began to court Jean Oliver from his boat on Toqua Lake. Donley Pansch and Jean Oliver were married on March 26, 1960. On November 1, 1961, they moved to their new farm southeast of Johnson. Donley and Jean had 4 children: Clark Bennett, Laura Jean, Julie Kay, and Karl Richard. In the early 1960's, Donnie often trapped muskrats with his brother Ronnie in the sloughs. He also hunted pheasants with all his brothers.
Though he didn't especially favor traveling, Donnie and his family visited Florida several times. He also relaxed with Jean on the Hawaiian Islands in 1976. Donnie liked fishing, traveling 3 times to Canada and on various trips to Lake Michigan to catch salmon.
Donnie was an active citizen serving on the Town Board for 6 years and as a Big Stone County Commissioner beginning in 1972. He was on the Agassiz and Odessa Mutual Insurance Company Board, Golf Club Board, Mt. Olive Lutheran Church Council, West Central Mental Health Board, Grace Home Board, and Main Street Industries Board.
Donnie and Jean sold their farm in the spring of 1983 and moved into Graceville. After moving to town, he began to golf more frequently. In 1985, Donnie, an avid bowler, bought Lane's Lanes Bowling Alley in Graceville, renaming it Don's Alleys. He bowled in tournaments in the area and in the Milwaukee/Chicago area in the early 1990's. He also participated in the ABC 1995 National Tournament in Reno, Nevada.
Donnie also loved spending time with his grandchildren. A favorite activity was taking them out for breakfast when they stayed overnight at Grandpa and Grandma's house. It made Grandpa a popular guy with all the grandchildren. He also handed out Tootsie Rolls when they bowled at Grandpa's bowling alley.
In the fall of 1995 he quit smoking, a nasty habit he picked up in the army, due to a bad case of pneumonia. Donnie later got emphysema, and as a result his health slowly deteriorated. He still enjoyed watching the Twins and Chicago Cubs play baseball on television. His advice to the players was that "if you don't swing the bat, you can't hit the ball."
Donley died on Sunday, January 28, 2007 of cancer at his home in Graceville, MN. He is preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Florence Pansch and brother Ronald Pansch.
Donley is survived by his wife, Jean; 4 children, Clark, Laura (Greg) Athey, Julie (Leonard) Epple, and Karl; 8 grandchildren, Amanda, Nicole, Amber, and Jennifer Athey, and Karolina, Ethan, Mateja, and Renata Epple; 4 brothers, Roger (Rita), David (Ruth) Harlon (Carol), and Burton (Sharon); 1 sister, Birdie (Myron) Duin; and 4 in-laws, Carolyn Pansch, Gail and Jim LaFave, Bob and Marsha Oliver, and Joe and Jo Ann Oliver; and many other relatives.