Marlin Pankratz of Mountain Lake, Minnesota went to be with the Lord on June 13, 2014 at the age of 77. He died fromcomplications of cancer surgery in Rochester, Minnesota.
Marin’s family extends an invitation to a Celebration of Life for Marlin Pankratz on Saturday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the alliance Missionary Church in Mountain Lake, located at 809 5th Avenue. It will be a chance to share food, memories and pictures with family and friends.
Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain assisted the family. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com.
Marlin was born September 20, 1936, the son of Peter F. Pankratz and Anna L. (Derksen) Pankratz in Glasgow, Montana. Marlin and his family moved to Mountain Lake in 1937, where his father farmed the Derksen farm and where Marlin grew up. He was baptized at the age of 15 and graduated from Mountain Lake Public High School in 1954. Marlin went on to the University of Minnesota School of Agriculture-Twin Cities, from where he graduated in 1957 with a degree in farm mechanics.
Marlin was a true hero, rescuing one of two boys from drowning in Mountain Lake after their raft was overtaken by waves in 1957.
Marlin enlisted in alternative service, serving as a human guinea pig at the National Institute of Health. He served one year in Haiti as an agriculture consultant to help the Haitian people and later returned to help rebuild after a hurricane.
Upon returning from Haiti, Marlin was united in marriage to Wilda Garberick on February 7, 1959 at the McCoy Memorial Baptist Church in Elkhart, Indiana. They both served at Wooster Ohio Boys Village. Marlin worked at Schusters Sheet Metal in Elkhart before moving to Butterfield, Minnesota.
When Marlin and Wilda returned from Elkhart, he started his long farming career. He farmed with his dad, Peter, and brothers, Loren and Bob, for many years at Con-Fed, Inc. of Mountain Lake, raising crops and hogs. He served on many boards including being President of the Minnesota Pork Producers and Vice-President of The National Pork Board. He was also on the Mountain Lake Lake Commission. Marlin served many years at the First Mennonite Church of Mountain Lake in different capacities. In his later years, he enjoyed working for R and R Farms and Nickel Construction.
Memorials will be donated towards cancer research.