Louie Pankonien

Louie Pankonien, 82, of Waco passed away Thursday, April 6, 2017. Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Monday, April 10, 2017 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home, 8220 Woodway Drive with Brother Noah Gutierrez officiating.Burial will follow at Chapel Hill Memorial Park. Visitation with the family will be 6 – 8 p.m. Sunday April 9, 2017 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home.

Louie was born June 3, 1934 to Ed and Ella Pankonien in Otto, TX. Louie worked in the cotton fields growing up. Around 1954 Louie moved to Waco for work at the Textile Mill on Cottonwood Street. In 1955 Louie married Clara Nell Freeman. They remained married until she passed in 1994. After several years, Louie found his second love of his life, JoAnn Oestreich. He retired after 37 years working for General Tire Rubber Company. Shortly after Louie and his brother R.D. Pankonien started mowing lawns. He was a jack of all trades and loved to make a dollar. He took pride in his work and loved to work odd end jobs; always looking for ways to help others. Louie loved to hunt, fish, and spend time outdoors. You could often find him at his deer lease with his daughters and best friend, Cotton Collier, who he met while working at General Tire. He was a loving father, grandfather, and friend to all who knew him.He was loved by many and he will be greatly missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Clara; girlfriend, JoAnn Oestreich, brothers, Robert, Johnny, Edwin, Alfred, and Benny; sister, Bertha Broyles.

Louie is survived by his daughters, Janet Balderas and husband, Raul, Jennifer Gregory and husband, Kevin; grandchildren, Lisa, Steven, Victoria, Andrew, and Jessica; 4 great-grandchildren with one on the way; brothers, R.D. Pankonien and James Pankonien; sister, Ella Mae Neumann and Ida Luedke and husband, Alvin, and Helen Guinn and husband, Willie, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pallbearers will be Raul Balderas, Steven Balderas, Charles Pankonien, David Connell, Andrew Gregory, Kevin Gregory, and Nick Salazar.

The family would like to thank the grandchildren and great-grandchildren for their visits and care; his sons-in-law and grandsons for their helping hands whenever needed; Teresa Collier Surley for her support and care; and his nurses at Senior Care of Hewitt and his doctors at Providence.