Clare Marie Pankratz

Clare Marie Pankratz, née Schroeder, passed away peacefully at Belleview Heights Assisted Living and Memory Care Center, Aurora, Colorado, on April 20, 2020.

Clara Schroeder was born December 7, 1925 as the second child to Reverend Paul and Marie Schroeder in Bessie, Oklahoma. There her father served as a Lutheran pastor, conducting services in English and in German. His calling as pastor prompted the family to move multiple times during Clara's childhood. She lived in Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Texas and last in Windsor, Colorado as she graduated high school.

As a young woman she moved to San Francisco, California in 1944, lived with her aunt Marie Schroeder and worked for the War Production Board. While there, she adopted the name Clare (she had previously been called Clara Marie by most people, especially the German speakers). She adored her time in San Francisco and the many new experiences there, including concerts, opera, and museum visits.

In 1945, WWII's end, she began college study at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa. To pay for college, she was allowed to teach elementary school in both Iowa and Kansas. In 1951 she completed a bachelor's degree in Education at Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, Colorado, where she met her future husband Lester.

Clare and Lester were married by her father on August 17, 1952. They first resided in Denver, where they both taught in public schools. They bore three children, David, Judy and Patty, moving to Aurora in 1961. Clare became a full-time mother but also taught home-bound children and gave piano lessons before resuming her teaching career. She earned a Master's Degree in Elementary Reading in 1978 (at age 53) and taught Title I Reading in the Aurora Schools. She was active in church and community activities, traveled to numerous foreign countries, played bridge with friends, and never stopped playing piano at home and singing in the St. Mark's Lutheran Church Choir.

Clare served St. Mark's Lutheran church in numerous capacities: church council, pastoral call committee, Stephen Ministry and projects for homeless people in the community. Clare was also a charter member of the American Association of University Women and remained active for many years. Over several decades she expanded her horizons and views of the world, yet remained largely true to her spiritual roots. Her life was characterized by love of family, including her grandchildren, service to her church and faith, and admiration of good cooking and music.

Survivors include her loving children David Pankratz, (Chicago, IL), daughter Judy Steger (Centennial, CO), and Patty Mogorit (Fort Collins, CO) and their spouses Nora, Bob and Don: grandchildren Lena and Kolya (Chicago, IL), Tyler and Briana (Aurora, CO), Jake, Chet and Molly (Fort Collins, CO) and great grandchildren Bowen and Ezra Rotondo. Also surviving her is sister Anne in Texas and sister Wilma in Colorado. She is preceded in death by sister Margaret and brothers Paul, Walt, Edward and Alvin.

Cremation will occur at Horan and McConaty Funeral Home in Aurora, CO, and interment will be in a unity urn with her late husband Les at Fort Logan Cemetery in Denver. 

Update 2021: A memorial service will take place on Friday, June 25, 2021 at 10am in the chapel at Horan and McConaty, 11150 E. Dartmouth Avenue (at S. Parker Road), Aurora, CO 80014. (Due to current concerns regarding the Covid virus, there will not be a reception.)

Family requests that people wishing to make donations give to organizations of their choice in honor of Clare's dedication to her faith, education, music and Alzheimer's research and support.