West Bend, Wi – Melissa Ann Panzer, a resident of Shorewood, was called home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on December 15, 2024. Born in Madison, WI on April 10, 1968, she spent her early years growing up in Madison, Brownsville and West Bend.
Melissa was a woman of grace and lived her belief in Christ every day. She was compassionate and always thoughtful about helping family and friends to grow their faith and find daily happiness.
She practiced her faith by daily journaling, study of the Bible and listening to Christian radio. She was a regular participant at Eastbrook Church in both the Wednesday and Sunday night evangelical fellowship groups.
Melissa graduated from West Bend West High School in 1986. She studied for a year in Gothenburg, Sweden learning Swedish and starting her studies of government and public affairs. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1991 with a degree in International Relations.
During her studies, she interned at the Wisconsin Department of Development and assisted in organizing the Midwest Japanese Conference. She was also employed at the Wisconsin State Assembly doing legislative research.
Having spent the summer between her junior and senior year at UW Madison in Santa Barbara, CA employed as a Counselor for USA Camp, she set a goal of moving to Los Angeles after graduation to pursue her “California dream.” She spent two years exploring the entertainment industry and modeling until moving back to the Midwest to be closer to family.
Melissa worked as an Executive Assistant doing research at the Chicago Board of Trade for five years. She returned to Milwaukee to work at Patrick Engineering and enjoyed working as a legal and research assistant in banking and law. Melissa was employed at Panzer Public Affairs from 2012 until her death working on community, real estate and public policy projects.
Staying informed on public policy and current events started at an early age for Melissa during family kitchen table discussions and participating in political campaigns and events. She loved a good debate, meeting new people and spending part of every day learning and keeping on top of the daily news.
Community and volunteer service were important to Melissa. She spent many hours as a support group facilitator for ABLE, Audio & Braille Literacy Enhancement working with their members. She also assisted in preparing grant proposals and planning ABLE’s annual “Friendraiser” Open House.
Additionally, Melissa volunteered her time consistently to ICP, Invisible Children’s Program, which is a project initiated by the Mental Health Association providing advocacy and support to parents and their children to promote a healthy lifestyle.
She enjoyed taking long walks on the shore of Lake Michigan, swimming and snowshoeing in winter. During her family travels to Wisconsin Dells and Door County, she enjoyed taking walks and exploring the many parks and trails. Fishing was a family activity that she enjoyed with Mary. She was the “chief cuddler” of the family husky, Lola, and two black Persian cats, Annie and Cleo.
Melissa loved to travel with family and friends and thoroughly enjoyed meeting new friends wherever she went. Her favorite places included Florida, Arizona and California. In Wisconsin, she spent many fun days at Big Cedar Lake, Door County, Wisconsin Dells and Plum Lake.
Her hobbies brought her joy and smiles. Her membership at the Milwaukee Art Museum encouraged her to explore painting and especially watercolors. Knitting mittens and throws for family and friends made her day. She was a competitive player at cards, board games and Mexican train dominos. She enjoyed cooking and baking new things for “grazing” times with family and friends. Yule Log Cakes, either made or bought, were her gift for family Christmas celebrations.
Melissa is survived by her parents, former Senator Mary Panzer (Todd Hunter), her uncle and aunt, Larry and Sharee Severson, her sister, Melinda Panzer, her nephew, Shashir Gaonkar, her brother-in-law, Dr. Sandeep Gaonkar, and many cousins and friends who enjoyed spending time with her.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Frank Sr. and Verna Panzer and Vernon and Mary Esther Severson, her biological parents, Constance Catrona and Frank Panzer Jr., and her aunt and uncle, Mary Lou and Leonard Zabel.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Eastbrook Church, 5353 N. Green Bay Ave, Milwaukee, WI 53209, on Saturday, February 8, 2025. A Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until the Service at 2 p.m., with a Reception following. The service will be live streamed here: https://eastbrook.online.church
Arrangements in the care of Feerick Funeral Home, 2025 E. Capitol Dr. Shorewood, WI 53211.
