Margie Pannell

At peace and surrounded by loved ones, Margie Pannell entered the Lord’s gates with thanksgiving on Friday, October 25, 2013, at her home in St. Joseph, Michigan. Margie’s life began in 1938, in Aurora, Missouri, near her family’s farm and home in Mt. Vernon, Missouri, where she and her brothers grew up. She viewed Mt. Vernon as her second home for all of her adult life. Margie’s parents were Raymond and Maxine (Reavis) Pannell who, along with her brother, Ray, preceded her in death. After completing college at Missouri State University and working for three years in Illinois, she relocated to Michigan in 1963, to work at Whirlpool Corporation. She completed an MBA at Michigan State University and achieved the title, Vice-President of KitchenAid Marketing. She retired after a 31 year career at Whirlpool. Margie loved serving her communities, both the one of her roots, Mt. Vernon, and her community of choice, St. Joseph. She gave passionately of her time and talent to enhance the lives of everyone she met and everything within her circle. She devoted herself to the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center, Krasl Art Center, the Methodist Church in St. Joseph, and the Lawrence County, Missouri Historical Society, among many others. She felt that she was one of those to whom much had been given, and, therefore, much was expected. Margie gladly accepted that responsibility and dedicated herself to meeting it. Her efforts will be missed but her legacy continues. Visitation of family and friends will be at Starks & Menchinger Chapel on Wednesday, October 30, 2013, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. A celebration of Margie’s life will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2013, at the First United Methodist Church in St. Joseph, with the Reverend Harris Hoekwater officiating. Memorials may be made to the Heritage Museum and Cultural Center of St. Joseph, the St. Joseph First United Methodist Church Endowment Fund, or the Lawrence County, Missouri Historical Society. Margie loved spending time with her surviving brother and devoted caregiver, Duane Pannell (West Memphis, Arkansas). She is also survived by first cousins Joyce Moore, Sara Weinreich, and Dale Kirby, and a niece, Aleesha (Justin) Coke. She also leaves a world of friends, whom she valued as family. Starks and Menchinger Funeral Homes of St. Joseph has been entrusted with arrangements. Those wishing to sign Margie’s memory book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.