Viola “Vi” M. Pankow, 80, of Dubuque, Iowa, passed away on November 21st, 2023, at Stonehill Care Center.

Friends and family may visit from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 26th, 2023, at Leonard Funeral Home & Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road.

Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 a.m. at the Cathedral of St. Raphael with Fr. Dennis Quint officiating on Monday, November 27th. There will also be a visitation beginning at 9:00 a.m. at the Cathedral until the start of Mass. Burial will be at Mount Olivet at a later date.

Viola was born on June 28th, 1943, in Decorah, Iowa, and grew up on the family farm in Ossian, the youngest daughter of Walter and Fredoline (Remke) Lansing. She was educated in the St. Francis de Sales Catholic school system. After graduation for the Dubuque Beauty Academy in 1962 with a degree in cosmetology, she worked as a hairdresser at Stampfer’s Department Store, Iones Beauty Salon, and various funeral homes over the years, including Didesch Funeral Home and Leonard Funeral Home. She worked as a baker at St. Dominic Villa until it’s closure, and then worked as a baker until retirement at Mount St. Francis.

Vi married her high school sweetheart Robert Leonard Pankow on May 3rd, 1966, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Dubuque, a year earlier than planned due to Bob becoming enlisted in the Army. Together, they spent the first couple of years of their marriage in Darmstadt, Germany, where Bob was stationed. They then moved back to Dubuque where they settled and raised their three children: Michael, Tracy, and Lori.

Viola was an avid gardener, keeping a large vegetable and flower garden every year. She was an excellent baker, well known for her Christmas cookies. She also enjoyed reading every day. Above all, Vi enjoyed being the best grandma and was an important part of her grandchildren’s lives. She was a member of the Cathedral of St. Raphael, where she used to be a member of the choir.

Viola is survived by her husband of 57 years Robert, three children Michael (Jill) Pankow, Tracy Lee (Palah) Tath, both of Dubuque, and Lori (Susan Brindle) Pankow of Waukee, grandchildren Alexander and Elizabeth Tath, step-grandchildren Daniel and Samantha Callahan, and step great-grandchild Rowan Callahan. Viola is also survived by her sisters Lidwin “Patty” McCabe, Gladys Didesch, Rosalind Henneberry, Inez (Charles) Nutt, and Geraldine Maloy, brothers-in-laws Terrence Cobry and Donald Pankow, and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Lawrence, sisters Betty (John) Welter and Esther Cobry, brothers-in-law John Welter, Arthur McCabe, Al Didesch, Melvin Henneberry, and Michael Maloy.

The family would like to thank the staff of Stonehill Care Center and Hospice of Dubuque for their care of Vi.