Gary Pansier

Crivitz - Gary Lee Pansier, 83, of Crivitz, Wisconsin passed away at his home on Tuesday, April 28, 2020. He is survived by his wife, Joan, his sisters, Beverly Berken and Donna C. Pansier of De Pere, Wisconsin. Surviving are also his nieces, nephews and cousins who meant so much to him and he dearly loved spending time with them.

Gary was married to the former Joan Renee Bader, from Ogden, Utah. They celebrated 35 years of marriage on June 16, 2019.

Gary was born in De Pere, Wisconsin on January 24, 1937. In high school he was active in sports, lettering for four years in football, basketball and track. He graduated from West De Pere High School in 1955 and attended Northern Michigan University, Rippon College, Wisconsin State College on football scholarships. He was the All Conference Captain of the football team for Oshkosh in 1962. In 1963 Gary graduated from Oshkosh State College earning a Bachelor of Science Degree and played defense for the semi-professional football team, the Manitowoc Chiefs in 1964. During this time he also served with the U.S. Army Reserves in Tacoma, Washington and Colorado Springs, Colorado and received an honorable discharge in 1963.

After graduation, Gary worked for National Geographic in St. Louis, Missouri until he was hired as a commercial airline pilot by Airwest in San Francisco, California. He flew as a First Officer for Airwest Airlines, Hughes Airwest Airlines, Republic AirLines and Northwest Airlines, and was based in San Francisco, Phoenix, Chicago, Detroit and Minneapolis. He retired as a Captain on the Boeing MD-80 Aircraft in 1997. His wife, Joan, worked with him as a Flight Attendant, and Gary liked to say that how fortunate he was to have a wife who waited on him both at work and at home!

Gary's passions included the love for his wife, his passion for his country, our Constitution and the Rule of Law that we are blessed with as Americans. They also included his love for football, flying, horseback riding in the Superstition Mountains in Arizona, the Green Bay Packers, and all his beloved pets. His infectious smile always expressed the incredible joy he felt for life, his friends and his family.

Toward the end of his life on this earth, Gary expressed a desire that his legacy would be that "whenever you think of me, I hope it brings a smile to your face." He also expressed a strong desire to join all the precious dogs in heaven who crossed the Rainbow Bridge who he had known and loved throughout his life.

Joan would like to thank Unity Hospice, especially Cheryl and Katherine, for the exceptional End of Life Care they provided and continue to provide.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, a celebration of Gary's life will be held for friends and family that will be announced at a later date. For those whose lives he touched, online condolences may be expressed online at www.rhodescharapata.com.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Green Bay Press-Gazette from May 1 to May 3, 2020.

Memories and Condolences
for Gary Pansier

Sponsored by Rhodes-Charapata Crivitz - Crivitz.

5 Entries

Joan

April 28, 2023

Lost the love of my life three years ago today. As family and friends, it is our role to keep memories of Gary alive in our hearts so he will always be with us!

Gary & Joan

Joan Pansier

May 25, 2020

May 3, 2020

To add to Wayne Merrill's message: Gary enjoyed many golf games at the Ogden Golf & Country Club, especially playing on Father's Day with his father-in-law, Alan Bader and wife Joan and her sister's Barbara Taylor and Allyn Bader Barclay.

I (Allyn) worked many years at the swimming pool and loved working with your mother, Donna. Although I don't believe Gary never met your mother, if he did, he certainly would of put on smile on her face.

Gary loved flying, but also got a lot of pleasure from meeting the passengers and he always made the time to make his co-workers laugh.

Thank you, Wayne, for sharing your connections. It can be such a small world. God speed.

doris

May 3, 2020

Gary was a lover of life and always looked for the optimistic side of things and his humor and presence will be dearly missed. Will look for Gary on the other side. Love and Blessing to all.

How you can show support

Notify Me

Get email updates whenever changes are made.

Send flowers

Consider sending flowers.

Add photos

Share their life with photo memories.

Plant trees

Honor them by planting trees in their memory.

Donate in Memory

Make a donation in memory of your loved one.

Share this page

Invite other friends and family to visit the page.

WAYNE MERRILL

May 2, 2020

I did not know Captain Pansier. I learned of his passing through the Delta Airlines pilot's group that monitors all passing of any pilot associated with Delta. Gary was North West airlines so (due to merger) he showed up in my email. Now here is the interesting part. My hometown is Ogden, Utah. I knew Joan's father Alan Bader and went to high school with Barry Sneddon, husband of Frances Whetton. I was friends with James Taylor, Barbara Ann Bader's husband. I contacted my best friend, Orluff Opheikens in Ogden to help me sort this all out and I guess Barbara worked with Orluff at his construction co. I know this may seem convoluted, but as a retired Delta Airlines Pilot, I feel a connection to this since I kind of knew or knew of most of the people associated with Gary. I know that Alan Bader was a member at the Ogden Golf and Country club. I and my mother Donna Merrill worked there. Donna was the office manager for many years. I also have a connection with Crivitz, WI. A very good friend of mine is from near there and is about Gary's age, tho after checking he didn't know him. I could go on. Instead I will just say that it seems Captain Gary Pansier was a wonderful guy. The connections and coincidences in this are so moving to me that I had to comment. Forgive me for that.
I am sorry that Gary had to take his Final Flight West, but I am sure he has a tailwind. Godspeed Captain Pansier!
Captain Wayne Merrill

Showing 1 - 5 of 5 results