Loren Pankratz

Loren Paul Pankratz went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, September 1, 2021, after falling ill with COVID-19. He was 73 years old and lived in Larkspur, Colorado. Loren was born on February 16, 1948, in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, to Peter and Anna (Derksen) Pankratz. He grew up on the family farm outside of town along with two brothers and two sisters. He graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1966 and from Worthington Junior College in 1968. Loren had two sons, Shelby and Jeremy, with Joan Rettke during his first marriage. In 1985, Loren married Leesa Klassen after she accepted his marriage proposal delivered on a huge banner flown over the parade of Mountain Lake's Pow Wow festival. Leesa's son Robbe became Loren's third boy. Loren worked for many years with his father and brothers as a maintenance man, troubleshooter, and technical innovator on the family farm, which grew into the sizeable hog operation Con-Fed, Inc. Con-Fed and his automation handiwork was featured in numerous news articles, farming magazines, and television segments. Loren moved his family to Colorado in 1986, having previously fallen in love with the mountain state on family vacations that encompassed the Dakotas, Colorado, and Wyoming. In Colorado, he was successful as a financial planner and a homebuilder until "retiring" to work as a van driver and maintenance man for an area medical transportation company. Loren loved skiing, riding motorcycle, home improvement projects, and keeping the road leading to his house in great shape with his road grader. (Yes, his own road grader!) He loved fixing anything and everything he could get his hands on, and if everything was fixed, he'd keep busy by tinkering with things he felt could be improved. And he was always more than willing to discuss and debate political topics. He was a fan of science fiction and loved listening to music. Despite his choice to leave farming for the mountains, Loren never lost his admiration for farmers, their work ethic, and John Deere equipment in particular. Browsing for internet videos of John Deeres at work in the field was a frequent pastime and one he relished sharing with friends and family. He always regarded the move to Colorado as one of his great accomplishments. He loved the scenic views, the mountain air, and the seasons and weather along the front range. Loren is survived by his wife Leesa; his three sons Shelby of Zeeland, Michigan, Jeremy and wife Lee of Fall City, Washington, and Robbe Uhrhammer and wife Amy of Mount Holly, North Carolina; his three grandchildren Trey, Shaye, and Jamie; his brother Robert; and many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Margaret and Laura, and his brother Marlin. A visitation will be held at Sturm Funeral Home in Mountain Lake from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Thursday, September 9, 2021 and will continue on Friday from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at the Cornerstone Bible Church.. Funeral services will be held on Friday, September 10, 2021, at Cornerstone Bible Church, 1019 Prince St, Mountain Lake, MN 56159, at 11:00 am. Burial will follow at Cornerstone Bible Church Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be sons Shelby, Jeremy, and Robbe; brother Robert Pankratz; nephew Mark Pankratz; and longtime close friend Roger Pabst. A luncheon for friends and family back at Cornerstone Bible Church will follow the burial. Arrangements are with the Sturm Funeral Home in Mtn. Lake, Minnesota. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.sturmfh.com. Visitation 1 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Thursday, September 9, 2021 Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel 420 - 10th St. N. Mtn. Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Visitation 2 10:00 am - 11:00 am Friday, September 10, 2021 Cornerstone Bible Church 1019 Prince Street Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 11:00 am Friday, September 10, 2021 Cornerstone Bible Church 1019 Prince Street Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information Cornerstone Cemetery (formerly EMB) West side of 570 Avenue, South of 360th St, North of 10th St/ Co. Rd 9 Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Reception A lunch will be served at the church immediately following burial. Attend Virtually The service will be livestreamed at The Conerstone Bible Church, Mountain Lake facebook page. https://m.facebook.com/Cornerstone-Bible-Church-100866931911403/