Obituary of William D. Panek

William D. Panek, 89, of Glastonbury passed away on Thursday, November 4, 2021. He was the beloved husband of Ann (Monaco) Panek for sixty-five years.

Born in New London, Bill was the son of the late Anna Panek.  He was raised in Norwich and graduated from Norwich Free Academy where he excelled at both baseball and basketball.  He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War.  Bill married Ann in 1956 and was a Glastonbury resident for over sixty-five years.  He worked at the MDC as a Title Searcher for his entire career, retiring in 1997.  Bill was a very active member of the Property Owners Club, Riverfront Community Center, St. Paul Church, as well as St. Paul Men’s Club where he enjoyed Tuesday BINGO night with his friends.  He was also an AARP member, where he and Ann took advantage of many day trips.

Bill was an avid NY Yankees fan, attending yearly games with his grandsons and always making a stop at Modern Apizza in New Haven on the ride home.  He was a huge supporter of UCONN Men’s & Women’s basketball, going to many games throughout the years.  Bill organized and attended many bus trips to the casino where he loved playing slots and using his free vouchers.  Bill and Ann routinely went to McDonald’s for breakfast, chatting all morning with friends from their senior group.  On the weekends, you would find them at the Glastonbury Coffee Shop or Ken’s Corner.  What Bill enjoyed the most was watching his two grandsons grow up throughout the years.  He would attend all of their sporting events, cheering them on from youth through high school.

Besides his wife Ann, he leaves behind his only daughter Diane and son-in-law Hans Kretzmer of Glastonbury, grandchildren Nicholas Kretzmer and his wife Amanda and Daniel Kretzmer, all of Glastonbury.  He also leaves many adoring relatives and friends. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, November 13, 2021 at 10:00 am at Ss. Isidore and Maria Parish at St. Paul Church, 2577 Main St., Glastonbury.  Burial will be in Neipsic Cemetery. Friends may call on Friday, November 12, 2021 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at Mulryan Funeral Home, 725 Hebron Ave., Glastonbury.  In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory can be made to the Parish of Saints Isidore and Maria or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.