Leola Pankau

 (From Clark Funeral Home)

Leola Marleen Pankau, age 83, a cherished wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully at her home in Pineville, Missouri, on Sunday morning, October 26, 2025, after months of failing health. She entered this life on February 28, 1942, in Blanchard, Missouri, the second of four children born to the late Oren Edmond and Thelma Pearl (Blessman) Peery.

Leola was the beloved matriarch of a large and loving family. She is survived by her husband of sixty years, Joe Pankau of the home; four children, Randy Pankau and wife, Sarah, of Pineville, Missouri, Ronny Pankau and wife, Rhonda, of Schleswig, Iowa, Joy Pankau and husband, Tom Campbell, of Pineville and Oren Pankau also of Pineville; nineteen grandchildren; several great and great-great grandchildren; a brother Galen Peery and wife, Karen, of Clarinda, Iowa; a sister, Linda Dixon and husband, Floyd, of North Powder, Oregon; several nieces and nephews as well as a host of other family and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; a son, Russell Ray; two granddaughters, Jacquline Pankau and Kaylee Pankau; and a sister, Viola Gumm. 

 


Raised in Elmo, Missouri, Leola graduated from high school and soon after, on July 1, 1965, she married her soulmate, Joe. Together, they built a life filled with love and laughter, welcoming five children into the world. In 1984, they moved to Pineville, Missouri, where they would remain. Leola's professional life was marked by dedication and hard work, retiring from Cobb-Vantress in Jane, Missouri, in 2018.

An avid lover of the outdoors, Leola found joy in hunting and cat fishing, often sharing these passions with her family. She was a skillful horseback rider, and her love for horses was evident to all who knew her. Leola's musical talents shone when she sang and danced, especially to her favorite country music tunes. 

Above all, the time she spent with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren was what she cherished most, creating memories that will be treasured forever. Leola's life was a beautiful melody of moments that echoed the values she held dear: family, friendship, and the simple pleasures of life.

Funeral services are 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 1, 2025 in the Anderson Chapel of the Ozark Funeral Homes with Pastor Anthony Creason officiating. The family will receive friends on Saturday morning beginning at 10:00 a.m. in the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers memorials are being directed to Gentiva Hospice c/o the funeral home. Arrangements are under the care of Ozark Funeral Home in Anderson, Missouri.