Paul Whipple Pfankuch

Paul was born in Los Angeles, CA to Floyd Pfankuch and Gertrude Whipple. He also had an older sister Norma. He grew up in Compton, CA ,attending school there through Junior College. Paul enlisted in the Navy Reserve at 17 and continued through college and seminary to be commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy Chaplain Corp.

Paul transferred from Compton Junior College to Dana Lutherqn College in Blair, NE, to take Hebrew and Greek to prepare for seminary. While at Dana he met Bonita Peterson of Shelby, Iowa. When not in class or studying the two played tennis and getting to know each other. They married on August 25, 1957.

Paul attended Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque, IA. While there there first son, David, was born. After graduation a second son, Mark, was born. Paul moved to Portalnd, OR to finish an internship. The family then moved to Bowling Green, Ohio to serve his first Parish. A third son, Daniel was born. To be closer to his parents, the ocean and mountains, Paul acceptd a call as youth pastor at a large congregation in Hawthorn, CA. A fourth son, Timothy was born. Paul then took a call to serve a parish in Boulder City, NV.

A few years later Paul received a call to be Executive Director at Circle R Bible Camp between Omaha and Lincoln, NE. What a great place to raise 4 sons on 160 beautiful wooded acres near two rivers.

Paul was then asked to be Executive Director of Flathead Lutheran Bible Camp, about 200 beautiful acres on Flathead Lake in Lakeside, MT. Here he took a 3 month a year camp to year-round camp. He also brought Gymnastic and Basketball Camp weeks to the bible camp, as well as a Ranch Camp near Dutton, MT. This was another wonderful place to raise kids.

Paul went back to serve parishes, first in Los Lunas, NM and then in South Lake Tahoe, CA until his retirement.

After retiring he settled in Boise, ID near all four sons. Paul was asked to be Interim Pastor in Caldwell, ID. Paul and Bonita became members of King od Glory Church Luthern Churcxh in Boise where they remained. Paul and Bonita travelled for a few years in their Motor Home and spending time vacationing in Mexico. Paul decided to take a part-time job driving tour buses in the Western USA and Canada, until he had a stroke in 2016.

November 1, 2025 Paul started having health issues and was hospitalized. He remained in hospitals and rehabilitation nursing centers until February when he came home and treted in hospice cre until his passing March 16th , 2025,

Paul is survived by his wife Bonita,; twp sons Daniel and Timothy; Daughter in Law Lori (Travis) Pfankuch;six Grndchildren, Kyhl Pfankuch, Travis Pfankuch, Travis Barnes, Mindy Pfankuch Zaragoza, Kirsten (Pfankuch) Causton, Erik Pfankuch; five Great Grandchildren, Leighton Zaragoza, Olivia Pfankuch, Zoe Zaragoza, Nolan Pfankuch and Noah Pfankuch. Beyond that an extended family of foreign exchange students and camp staff.

A Celebration of Life and internment of Ashes, in a Columbarium will take place at King of Glory Lutheran Church in Boise, ID on April 5th 2025 at 1:30pm. Condolences or Flowers can be sent to Bonita at 3344 N Dalton Ln Boise, ID 83704.