HOWARD PANTLE

Howard Arthur Pantle of the Town of Fredonia died Sunday, Sept. 23, at the Pavilion at Glacier Valley hospice in Slinger, just 12 days after this wife, Ruth Ann Pantle died. He was 88.

Mr. Pantle was born March 24, 1930, in Highland Park, Ill., to Charles and Sophie Henrichs Pantle. He attended public schools in Highland Park.

Mr. Pantle loved football, playing semi-pro ball and trying out for the Chicago Bears in the late 1940s. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War from 1950 to 1953 as a military police officer stationed in Japan.

He met Ruth Smith Collier in the early 1960s in Slinger, where he had moved to build a house near his sister, Mr. Pantle’s son, Stephen, said. They were married on Sept. 12, 1962, in Slinger.

Mrs. Pantle had three children from a previous marriage — Patricia, Jennifer and Thomas. They later had two more children together, Mark and Stephen.

The family lived in Slinger until 1968 when they bought a farm in Town of Fredonia, where they specialized in growing flowers and plants for their business, Pioneer Garden Center in West Bend, for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Pantle also drove a school bus for many years for the Northern Ozaukee School District.

“He loved the relationship with the kids that he made over the years,” Stephen Pantle said. “They still talk about him to this day. Many have commented (since his death) he was their favorite bus driver.”

Mr. Pantle is survived by his sons Thomas (Diane) Collier of Hazelhurst, Mark (Laura) of Fredonia and Stephen (Lorice) Pantle of West Bend; grandchildren Paula (Patrick) Brennan, Amy (Erik) Ciriacks, Scott (Megan) Collier, Lindsay (Scott Hensley) Collier, Ben Collier, Ann Idt, Christopher Idt, Dianna (Shawn Hoffman) Pantle, Erik Pantle, Mitchell Bustamante, Hannah Bustamante, Mason Pantle, Sienna Pantle, Courtney (Daniel) Meyer, Kayla (Stephen Scheel) Schmitt and Kenzie Pantle; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister Jean Smith and brother Kenneth (Patricia) Pantle.

Mr. Pantle was preceded in death by his parents; his wife  Ruth; daughters Patricia Hass and Jennifer Idt; son-in-law John Idt; brothers Gilbert (Gloria), Alvin, William (Carole) and Charles (Elizabeth) Pantle; sister Beatrice (Edward) Sjoberg; sister-in-law Marion (Robert) Ettinger; and brother-in-law Charles Smith.

A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, Oct. 13, at New Life Church in West Bend.  The family will receive visitors at church from 10 a.m. until the service.

Eernisse Funeral Home assisted the family.