Rachel Claire Pankratz

Our dear, beautiful Rachel’s life on earth was suddenly ended by a reckless driver on the highway as she was coming home. She did not suffer as she was called to her heavenly home with the Lord and her grandmas and grandpas and her other relatives and friends. We know she is happy now and free from the many challenges this life had for her. God must have wanted her incredible sparkle in Heaven, and as her friend Alexis said, she is probably dancing and sprinkling glitter throughout. We were a close family and she remained very close to her brother Josh. She looked up to him almost like an older brother and admired his wisdom and his “adulting” skills. She always quoted him that she was the most intelligent member of the family and could do whatever she wanted. That helped her through so much. She was very brave. She loved looking at old photos and we had just had a good session of that. She loved so many things about this life…animals, butterflies and bunnies in our yard, the lake, swimming, Starbucks, books, movies, and especially music.  She so loved fashion from an early age and really enjoyed dressing up with, of course, the perfect makeup and shoes. She was drawn to ballet at an early age and worked hard at it, dancing at the Pabst Theatre as a child. In school she loved playing basketball and being a cheerleader. She was intelligent and had so many gifts. In college she was an editor of the school newspaper and studied phlebotomy (she was currently looking into jobs). Rachel kept up with the latest diabetes research and communicated often with the scientist that developed the algorithm for her diabetes pump, while counseling others online (she was even asked to be a diabetes educator for the pump manufacturer). Her 8 years of helping her 3 step children with school and life went by fast and we all enjoyed outings and holidays with them, especially the trip to Disneyworld with all of us. She still thought of them almost every day.

She had such a big heart and loved so many and was loved in turn by so many relatives and friends. We will miss her terribly, but she is with us in spirit, and is happy and free now in her heavenly home.

To those who have sent flowers, we thank you. We have also decided to collect memorials to Days for Girls International to help girls in El Salvador go to school, an organization that Rachel believed in.

Her loving parents Deanne and Gregory and her brother Josh.

Visitation at Atonement Lutheran Church, S70 W16244 Martin Drive, Muskego, Wisconsin on Wednesday, July 14, 2021, from 11:30 AM – 1:15 PM. Service to follow at 1:30 PM.