- Date Of Birth: February 2, 1940
- Date Of Death: November 28, 2019
- State: Indiana
Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2019, Kenneth Earl Pannell, loving husband and father of three children, went to be with the Lord after battling brain cancer, at the age of 79. He went peacefully, surrounded by the love of close family members.
Ken was born on February 2, 1940 in Bedford, IN to the late Earl and Louise (Colburn) Pannell. After graduating high school from Loogootee, he married his high school sweetheart, I. Jewell (Livingston) on May 16, 1959 and began his 22 years of honorable service in the US Air Force. Ken and Jewell raised their children, Victoria Land-Rodda (Donald), K. Scott Pannell (Teresa) and Robyn Ackermann (James), all who survive. Additional survivors include two brothers, Don Pannell of Evansville, IN and Roy Pannell of Loogootee, IN; six grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, Thomas Pannell.
Ken retired from a career in Satellite Communications with the Air Force as a Chief Master Sergeant. His military career took him abroad to Germany and the Philippines, with a daughter born at each of these two locations, and he served from coast to coast of the continental United States, in Washington, DC during our bicentennial year, at Cheyenne Mountain NORAD in Colorado, and completing his career in California, near NASA. Their son, Scott was born at Scott AFB in Illinois, and now Ken is being honored at the end of his life by Air Force officials from Scott AFB, who will present the flag as part of the military honors during his funeral service.
Following his military career, Ken subsequently retired from his civilian career with the National Education Association in Washington, DC where he oversaw computer operations. Ken was always interested in mathematics and would have made an engaging teacher, so it was only fitting that he chose NEA as his second career. Ken and Jewell came back home to Indiana after his two wonderful careers, to retire and enjoy family and life-long friends. Having retired young, Ken & Jewell were able to enjoy many years of traveling that included several cruises, a destination vacation to Hawaii and bus tours throughout the United States. Ken & Jewell recently celebrated 60 years of glorious marriage with family and close friends at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church, where they have been active members since they returned to Bloomington 24 years ago. Ken’s past time was his family, and was actively engaged with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was an avid reader, loved bowling, working crossword puzzles, playing hours of Scrabble, and loved his enduring friendships with his church family. He embodied a man of the highest character and of all of life’s accomplishments, our family would be remiss if we didn’t highlight his patriotism and how much his Air Force career meant to him, and the honor it was for him to serve his country.
