Lester Lee Pankratz

Lester Lee Pankratz, age 92, passed away peacefully in Aurora, Colorado, on Sunday, April 28, 2019.

Lester was born to Herman and Bena Pankratz in Hillsboro, Kansas on February 9, 1927. At a young age his family moved westward to pursue a life in farming to the area that borders eastern Colorado and western Kansas. Alongside his duties as oldest child on the farm, he attended school in Burlington, CO and graduated high school in Kanorado, KS. He enlisted in the Coast Guard shortly before graduation and served happily. He met his future wife, Clare, while attending Colorado State College of Education in Greeley, CO. Several years after he and Clare married, he completed a master's degree in education at the University of Missouri. During a long career in education he worked as a classroom teacher, high school counselor, and then high school administrator, primarily at Adam City High School in Commerce City, CO.

Lester honored his Mennonite heritage by maintaining his Christian faith in multiple ways. He was an active member of St. Mark's Lutheran Church in Aurora, CO. He also served tirelessly in many civic organizations dedicated to social concerns, including Civitan and Ronald McDonald House. He was, in modern terms, a ""person for others.""

Loving survivors include his wife, Clare Schroeder Pankratz, residing in Aurora, CO, children David Pankratz, (Chicago, IL), daughter Judy Steger (Centennial, CO), and Patty Mogorit (Fort Collins, CO) ; grandchildren Lena, Kolya (Chicago, IL), Tyler, Briana (Aurora, CO), Jake, Chet and Molly (Fort Collins.) and great grandson Bowen. Also surviving him are sister Deloris Burd (Montrose, CO) and brother Emery Pankratz (Hawthorne, CA). He is preceded in death by brother Orin Pankratz.

Cremation will occur at Horan and McConaty Funeral Home in Aurora, CO, and internment will be at Fort Logan Cemetary in Denver. The memorial service will be take place on Friday, July 19, at 11am in the chapel at Horan and McConaty. A reception with light food will follow noon-2:30pm at the same location. Horan and McConaty is located at 11150 East Dartmouth Avenue in Aurora, Colorado 80014. Family requests that people wishing to make donations give to organizations of their choice in honor of Lester's dedication to his faith, social service and education.