Shirley Mae Pankowski

Shirley Pankowski, 88, of Centennial, CO, passed peacefully on January 21, 2026, with Jesus Christ and family by her side.  Shirley was a parishioner at All Souls Catholic Church in Denver.   

Shirley was born on March 5, 1937, to Herman Kurtz and Julia Hirsch Kurtz in Omaha, Nebraska.  Shirley was the middle child with older brother Richard (spouse Donna) and younger sister Dorothy (Spouse Jim), all deceased. 

Shirley graduated from Omaha Technical High School in 1955.  She later pursued a career as COO of the Pankowski household and mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother extraordinaire! 

Shirley married Daniel Pankowski on March 2, 1957, at St. Adalbert Catholic Church in Omaha, Nebraska.  They had four children: Kathleen (spouse Clifford), David, Dan (spouse Kim), and Christopher. 

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, spouse Daniel, and children Kathleen, David, and Christopher.  Shirley is survived by her son Daniel, 5 grandchildren (Mathew, Patrick, Alec, Kaitlyn, Ella), and 6 great-grandchildren (Amelia, Annabell, Dylan, Abel, Lyanna, and Evelyn).

Shirley kept herself active with garage sales (often with family members and relatives!), golf (S. Suburban Women’s League), Littleton Soccer Association (she was a true “soccer Mom”), 4-H club, bowling (multiple leagues), bridge club, bingo, camping, fishing, and traveling with family (many of those trips to visit family in Omaha, NE and  Tooele, UT) and occasional trips to Black Hawk and Las Vegas with her husband Dan.  Shirley was a sports enthusiast, especially soccer, football, and baseball (a huge CO Rockies and Charlie Blackmon fan!).  Shirley could often be spotted at her children’s, grandkids, and great-grandkids sporting and school events.  Her family and grandchildren brought her great joy! 

A funeral service will be held on February 2, 2026, from 10 – 11 am at Drinkwine Mortuary at 999 W. Littleton Blvd with Fr. Jerry Rohr officiating. 

Interment will follow at Littleton Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be Dan Pankowski, Alec Pankowski, Cliff Littlejohn, Matthew Littlejohn, Patrick Littlejohn, and Brian Kurtz.

Donations in Shirley’s memory can be made to Food for Thought Denver,
P.O. Box 11813, Denver, CO 80211.

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