John Konaruk Pannick </MCC HEAD>

Story last updated at 6:18 PM on Wednesday, May 27, 2009

John Konaruk Pannick

March 24, 1945-May 20, 2009

Longtime Alaska and Kenai resident, Mr. John Konaruk Pannick, 64, died Wednesday, May 20, 2009, at his home in Kenai.

Memorial services were held May 25, 2009, at The First Presbyterian Church in Fairbanks, with Bonnie Brosius officiating. A potlatch will be announced at the end of the services. He was to be inurned at Birch Hill Cemetery in Fairbanks at a later date.

John Konaruk Pannick

Mr. Pannick was born March 24, 1945, to Harry and Flora Pannick in Fairbanks. He attended and graduated from Lathrop High School. He was a resident of Kenai, but had lived in Fairbanks and other various places in Alaska. John was a member of the Teamsters Local Union 959 for 40-plus years. He enjoyed fishing, camping, boating, trucking, family reading, church and his great nieces and nephews.

The family wrote, "He was not only an uncle to everyone, but a father to the ones who needed one. He is still a great and loving man and will be in our hearts forever. He was a great uncle and he loved to fish. At thanksgiving days, he would come up with the best prayers before we ate. All the kids loved to go fishing with him. The man he made you think. When the little ones were hungry, he took them out to eat. He couldn't live without his steak. I thought it was the funniest thing when he would try and catch up with us at the fair, but those short legs and one look away and he can wander off in seconds. When anyone was having hard times, one call and he was there for you. Always, he was our hero, always there to save the day. Uncle John was all about his family and the ones who needed him. Open hearted, open minded and open hands to his loved ones. It was an open door policy. His most favorite times are when the whole family is together. When you love someone always forgive, because life is short. Enjoy life while it lasts. Have no regrets while your wisdom grows, but like everyone knows, this whole family is stubborn to the bone. Like John Konaruk Pannick always said, 'I know everything.' Now he knows everything."

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ben, James and Frank Pannick; sisters, May, Martha and Margaret Pannick; uncle, Horace Pannick; and nephews, Richard and Harvey Pannick.

He is survived by his sisters, Irene Bentz of North Pole, Faith Moore of Anchorage and Mable Pannick of Fairbanks; brother, Billy Pannick of Fairbanks; nieces, Roberta Turner of Soldotna, Margaret Andrews of Anchorage, Stephanie Pannick of Anchorage, Leslie Peterson of Anchorage, and Jean Moore of Anchorage; and nephews, Charles Turner of Kenai and Richard Turner of Fairbanks.

Memorial donations may be made in memory of John to 139 Hillcrest Ave. Soldotna, Alaska 99611, C/O Roberta Jay Turner.

Arrangements were made by Peninsula Memorial Chapel.