William L. “Bill” Pannell, 95, of Festus, died April 15, 2021, at his home. Mr. Pannell, who had a deep baritone voice (and jokingly said he “had a face for radio”) began his career as an announcer for radio station WHBF, becoming a newscaster and eventually having his own sports show. After joining the U.S. Army 100th Infantry Division in 1943, he continued his radio endeavors at the Armed Forces Network (AFN) while stationed in Waiblingen, Germany. Staff Sgt. Pannell was awarded a Bronze Star for heroic achievement in actions during campaigns in France, Alsace and Germany. After the war, he graduated from the St. Louis University School of Law and began a long legal career, working first as a prosecutor and then as a private attorney, establishing the firm of Pannell, Dodson and Robinson in Festus.
Mr. Pannell loved airplanes and enjoyed building and flying custom aircraft. He and his friend, the late Daymond Coleman, headed several “fly-ins” of experimental planes at Festus Memorial Airport, where he also rebuilt a 1929 Curtiss Robin Plane. He loved music and was an accomplished drummer, as well as an avid golfer, frequently at the Joachim Golf Course in Herculaneum.
An adventure seeker, he loved to travel, and with his wife criscrossed the globe from the mountains of Colorado to the emerald waters of Ha Long Bay, meeting and making lifelong friends. He was born Oct. 29, 1925, in Rock Island, Ill., the son off the late Louis and Evelyn Pannell.
He is survived by his wife: Loan Pannell; three children: Missy (John) Goettl, Phil (Susan Kim) Le and Amy (John Keebler) Le; a granddaughter: Meg (Chris) Fluegge; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a sister: Mary Ann Strader.
According to Mr. Pannell’s wishes, no formal services will be held. Family and friends will celebrate his life at his home, where he shared his most cherished memories.