Ronald A. "Ron" Pankau

GALVA - Ronald A. “Ron” Pankau, 65, of Galva, died at 3:20 a.m., Saturday, April 23, 2022 at OSF St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 30 at Rux Funeral Home in Galva with Pastor Bob Curry officiating. Visitation will be from 8:00 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Galva Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the Ron Pankau Memorial Fund c/o Teri Pankau, 3557 County Highway 5, Galva, IL 61434.

He was born December 24, 1956 in Evanston, IL, the son of Ronald and Carol (Brett) Pankau and the oldest to nine siblings that he cared for and loved deeply. He married Teresa O. “Teri” Overbaugh on May 2, 1981 in Galva. She survives as does a son Matt (Jill) Pankau of Galva, his mother, Carol Pankau, his siblings, Claudia (Paul) Ericson, Brett (Kathy) Pankau, Ted (Mary Jo) Pankau, Jack (Kathy) Pankau, Russell (Marjorie) Pankau, Neil (Betsy) Pankau, Marty (Kelly Hartman) Pankau, Glenn (Katy) Pankau and Carol (Edward) Thompson, many nieces and nephews and now great nieces and nephews and his mother-in-law, Cherie Overbaugh of Galva. He was preceded in death by his father and his father-in-law, Robert Overbaugh.

Ron graduated from Maine South High School in Park Ridge and then Lake Forest College in 1979.  He was an outstanding athlete in various sports in both high school and at the collegiate level. He continued and shared his love for the game coaching everything from high school football to tee-ball and never missed a game that his son Matt was playing in. Ron began his professional business career in the early 80’s trading commodities and futures on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME). He remains a seat holder of the exchange and was an advocate for the industry for over 40 years. Later in his career, he was proud to represent as a member of the CME Board of Directors for 9 years. Along the way, in 2005, Ron and Teri acquired John H Best & Sons, Inc, a 130-year-old steel fabrication company in Galva. Over the years, Ron grew the company with the help of incredible employees and a vision for providing and growing opportunities for the town. He always led through the simple principle of always helping and supporting everyone who walked into his office, no matter their background or position.

He was an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears Fan and he enjoyed all sports, especially snow and water skiing, boating, golfing, baseball and horseback riding, just to name a few. He was of the Catholic faith and a member of the First Congregational Church in Galva. He was also a member of the HEAR Foundation and the Federal Economic Council.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Ronald A. "Ron" Pankau, please visit our floral store.