Harvey Pansch

Harvey Paul Pansch was born on August 16, 1920 to Gustav and Ida (Rau) Pansch in Akron Township. Harvey was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. He attended Country school until the 8th grade, graduating from Correll High School in 1938.

 

After graduation, Harvey attended the Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis for welding and machine mechanics. On September 23, 1942, Harvey entered into service with the United States Army, where he was trained as a P38 Pilot.  He married Alice Schulte of Odessa on December 31, 1943, then left for Europe where he flew 13 reconnaisance missions before his P38 was shot over Berchtesgarden and he escaped by parachute before his plane crashed in the Austrian Alps. He was taken prisoner on March 26, marched to Stalag 7A and liberated on April 29.

 

He returned to his wife and his birth home east of Odessa where they  farmed and raised six children. Harvey was a man of the earth and enjoyed family vacations, fishing, hunting, playing whist, gardening and fixing his own equipment. He was also a great cook and known for his pickles.

 

Harvey died on Wednesday, June 3, 2009, at Ortonville Area Health Services, at the age of 88.

 

Harvey is survived be his sons: Dennis (Jane) Pansch of Correll, MN, James (Margaret) Pansch of Zimmerman, MN, Dale (Jackie) Pansch of Alexandria, MN, Bill (Suzanne) Pansch of Ortonville, MN; daughters: Cindy Green of Stillwater, MN and Becky (Ron Germundson) Pansch of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren: Camille (William) Karels, Denise Fisher, Amanda Pansch, Abraham (Megan) Pansch, Cyrus (Deonne) Pansch, Helen (fiancée Mike Mattson) Pansch, Diana Busch, Donna Busch, Kelly Sullivan, Jenna Sullivan, Nathanael Green, Luke Santo, Anna Santo, Anna Germundson, Megan Germundson; great-grandchildren: Vanessa Karels, Magdeline Karels, Margaret Pansch; many nieces and nephews and other extended family members and friends. 

 

Harvey is preceded in death by his parents: Gustav and Ida; step-mother Helen; wife Alice; son-in-law David Green; 3 brothers: Glenn, Harold, and Warren; and one sister Ruby.