Friends and loved ones will gather on Suday at 2 p.m. to remember longtime resident and Laguna Niguel Rotary member, Don M. Pankhard at his home, 30581 N. Hampton Road.
Pankhard born in 1927, passed away last week.
Don joined the Laguna Niguel Rotary Club on April 25, 2000. He is a native of the state of Washington. He was heading for the Marine Corps one day, but got waylaid by a Navy recruiter and had “rough” duty in Monterey, California as well as Hawaii.
After the service, he finished his schooling at the University of Washington, majoring in marketing. Embarking on a career in the insurance industry, Don’s work took him from Seattle to Denver to Portland to San Francisco to Newport Beach and finally to Laguna Niguel. The chance to move to John Hancock’s head office in Chicago was turned down so he could remain in our community.
Don spent 50 years in the Life Insurance industry, specializing in life, annuity and disability income marketing. Through the years he has been involved with the Goodwill Industries Board, the Boy Scouts, the Arthritis Foundation Board, CHOC, the Huntington Beach Rotary (president in 1983-84), Rotary District representative (1990-91), Huntington Beach Chamber (member of the year in 1986).
He leaves four children, 6 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. When he retired, he enjoyed “motor homing” with his wife.
