Online Obituaries Saturday, August 14, 1999 August obits by date  August obits by name July obits by date  July obits by name Click here for today's obituaries    Esther Bertha Pankonin, 89, of Sanborn, died Thursday, August 12, 1999 at Valley View Manor, Lamberton.    Services are 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Red Rock United Methodist Church, Germantown Township, Redwood County, with burial in the church cemetery.    Visitation is 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday at Red Rock United Methodist Church.    Sturm Funeral Home, Springfield, is in charge of arrangements.    She is survived by grandchildren, Randy and wife Kelly of Sanborn and Jeff and wife Michelle, all of Sanborn, Sue and husband Jeff Rosenstengel of Springfield and Shelly of Sanborn; eight great-grandchildren; and daughter-in-law Sharon and husband Maynard Beyer of Sanborn.    She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Marvin in 1994; son Darrel in 1993; great-grandson Colby in infancy; sister Ruffina Beussman; and brothers Art and Eldo Hohman.    She was born Jan. 3, 1910 in Charlestown Township, Redwood County, to Henry and Agusta (Trapp) Hohman. She grew up on the family farm and attended Zion Lutheran School. She worked at Dietz Grocery Store in Sanborn prior to her marriage. She married Marvin Pankonin June 14, 1934 in Sanborn. The couple made their home on a farm in Germantown Township, where they farmed for over 50 years. In 1987 the couple retired and moved into Sanborn. She was a member of Red Rock United Methodist Church, Germantown Township.    John B. Groebner, 45, of rural Clements, died Thursday, August 12,1999 at the family farm in rural Clements    Mass of Christian burial will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Clement, with burial in St. Joseph's Catholic Cernetery, Clements.    Visitation will be 4-8 p.m. Sunday at the Sturm Funeral Home in Springfield, and 9:30-10:30 a.m. Monday at the church. There will be a parish prayer service at 7 p.m. and a Catholic Aid Rosary at 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home on Sunday.    He is survived by sisters, Diane Harrington of Moorhead, Judith May of Mankato, Mary I Groebner of Spokane, Wash.; Helen and husband Joe Cantu of Blaine; brothers, Linus Groebner of Clements, Dominic Groebner of Clements, Francis and wife Rhonda Groebner of Cobden, Jerome Groebner of Redwood Falls; a sister-in-law Rose Groebner of Revillo, S.D. and several nieces and nephews.    He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Cletus.    He was born Jan. 28, 1954 in Springfield to Leo J. and Eleanor Lena (Fuchs) Groebner. He grew up in Sundown Township and graduated from Springfield High School and Southwest State University in Marshall. Following college he worked in agricultural electronics in Mankato. In 1993 he returned home to begin farming with his family and he also worked at CashWise in New Ulm in maintenance. He was a lifelong member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Clements, Catholic Aid, the Prairieland Flywheelers 2 Cylinder Club, and served on the board of directors of MnVAP (Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers).    Thomas J. Kahle, 62, of 911 11th South St. in New Ulm died Friday, Aug. 13, 1999, at his home.    Services will be 10 a.m. Monday at the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home in New Ulm, with burial in St. Aloyisius Catholic Cemetery, Olivia.    Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Sunday and 7:30-10 a.m. Monday at the funeral Home. There will be a parish prayer serivce at 6 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.    A complete obituary will appear in a later edition of The Journal.