Lieutenant J.G. Erdman H. Pankow, USNR (Ret.)
March 2, 1917 - February 5, 1997
Honorary Member UW Naval ROTC Alumni Association

Lieutenant J.G. Pankow enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1933 at the age of sixteen. In 1941, he was called to active duty. He completed the Air Navigation Course at San Diego, California, in 1942. He then went into Navy Pre-Flight training at Athens, Georgia, graduating 29th out of 420. His basic Flight Training took place at Naval Air Station Dallas. He was commissioned as a Naval Pilot in 1943.

He served in VPB-34, which conducted night armed reconnaissance anti shipping patrols. He was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation Medal for his service with VPB-20 out of the Philippine islands. He served as a flight officer in VPB-22 following the war. He also served as the Safety and Survival Officer and Beach Crew Officer in Medium Sea Squadron 2 at NAS San Diego, California, and as the Squadron Gunnery Officer, and later as a Special Weapons Officer at Pensacola, Florida. Thereafter he held positions as the Personnel Officer, Education and Education Services Officer Barracks Officer, and Public Information Officer. He retired due to medical reasons in 1950.

Lieutenant J.G. Pankow moved back to Madison after retirement from the service and ran the House of Erd candies. He was an active participant in community service supporting the Salvation Army and other charities. He supported many of the University of Wisconsin's spirit groups. However, he truly devoted himself to supporting the UW Naval ROTC unit with the utmost passion.

He has donated time and money to the UW Naval ROTC battalion in a manner which only the most dedicated and generous men can. He has underwritten awards and provided fudge and other candies for the midshipman on a regular basis; constantly supporting and raising the morale of the Battalion Midshipman.

Lieutenant J.G. Pankow passed away on February 5, 1997.

The following tribute is from the Badger Shipmate, June 1997, and within the article refers to an earlier article about Erd in the May 1990 Badger Shipmate.

ERDMAN PANKOW: A REMEMBRANCE

Gary L. Beck, CAPT, USN (Ret.), CO, UW NROTC Unit, 1989 - 1991

I remember my introduction to Erdman Pankow. As the newly reporting CO of the UW NROTC Unit (January, 1989), the period of the first few months in the job was a time spent meeting new people and attempting to figure out what being the Professor of Naval Science was all about. Erd was one of those early acquaintances.

CDR Dean Hekel, XO of the Unit, had told me a little bit about Erd's involvement with the NROTC and about Erd's habit of bringing bags of food for the midshipmen. My first thought was that Erd was a salesman who was using his food contributions as a promotional scheme. That was before I had a chance to get to know him. If Erd was a salesman, he was the first I'd ever met who would rather give things away than sell them.

At first I was tempted to view Erd's acts of generosity as though he were like other men I'd known. As time went on I came to the realization that Erd was unlike anyone I had ever met. He was a truly unique individual. I came to appreciate the fact that Erd didn't do things for personal gain, unless that gain was the pure satisfaction he realized from doing things for others. He didn't have ulterior motives or hidden agenda. With Erd, every act was genuine and it came straight from the heart.

I've met people who were generous with their possessions and with their time. I've never met anyone as generous as Erd. I've met many Americans who are proud of our country. I've never met anyone who felt Erd's deep sense of pride nor the depth of his gratitude for having been given the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Navy. I have never met, nor shall I ever meet, any person who loved the Navy as much as did Erdman Pankow.

To say Erd was unique is a gross understatement. He was a man who had no need to explain his philosophy of life. He lived it. For those who knew him, there is no anecdote I can tell that will improve upon your own recollections of his acts of kindness and generosity. I'm sure I speak for those of us fortunate enough to call him Friend. He enriched our lives.

Editors Note: The following is reprinted from the May, 1990 edition of Badger Shipmate

The “Fudgeman” -- One of A Kind, May 1990, Badger Shipmate

About 20 years ago, Erdman (Erd) H. Pankow walked into the UW NROTC Unit and offered his services for whatever needs might exist. Since then, Erd has become one of the Unit's most vigorous supporters and biggest benefactors. A plank owner member of the UW NROTC Alumni Association, Erd was elected to membership on its board of directors in 1989. Erd was an enlisted member of the Naval Reserve before the country entered WWII. After mobilization recall, he was commissioned an ensign and completed pilot training. During the war he flew patrol aircraft in the South Pacific. Retired for medical reasons in 1950, Erd returned to Madison. For the last 24 years he has been a fixture on the State Street Mall and at the Dane County Farmers' Market selling homemade fudge, playing polka music, and exchanging quips from his yellow "House of Erd" stand.

Erd's generosity to the UW NROTC Unit has been boundless. He not only provides his famous fudge, cookies, chips and dips, and other goodies for Unit and campus ROTC receptions and Association reunions, but annually he underwrites awards given to midshipmen (such as the Freshman Spirit Award) and wines and dines the Unit staff at a catered affair. Erd is always looking for additional ways to help the Unit. For example, he recently arranged the donation of a full-sized billiard table to the Battalion. Erd really enjoys his association with the unit and loves to put on the uniform for functions like Navy Ball, the Tri-Service Ball, Mess Night, and commissioning and award ceremonies. The Unit has always appreciated Erd's enthusiasm for the Navy and active support, and in the past several years has been able to repay some of the kindnesses by including him in a contingent that attended the recommissioning of the battleship USS WISCONSIN (during which he presented a beautiful table cloth and napkin set, hand made by his late mother, for use by the Captain's Mess), formal recognition at Battalion formations, and the recent presentation of a leather flight jacket. More than anything, however, Erd cherishes the opportunity to be associated with the Unit--his own words say it best, "They could take me out of the Navy, but they could never take the Navy out of me."

This story is not complete, however. Annually the Wisconsin State Journal recognizes area residents who have made significant personal contributions when it recognizes "10 Who Made a Difference. " Last December Erd Pankow was selected as one of those ten, from a field of 122 nominees. Erd was nominated by former executive director of the Wisconsin Alumni Association, Arlie Mucks, Jr, who noted Erd's enthusiastic support of the UW Spirit Squad (cheerleaders and Pom-pom wavers) including hosting an annual free dinner for the Spirit Squad and the Wisconsin Singers. The article also informed us that Erd uses most of his fudge stand profits to feed needy people--as many as 60 families at Thanksgiving and Christmas (with frequent food deliveries at other times). But that's not all. Quoting from the article:

“Most of all, perhaps, Pankow is an ambassador for Madison and for his country. Because the UW is located here, thousands of people from all over the world visit Madison each year, and many of them find their way to Erdman Pankow's fudge stand. “I've gotten letters from India and Brazil and other countries,” Pankow said. “I always try to be a good representative of this country and to treat people in a way that will make them feel respected here.”

Erd Pankow--Navy officer, UW NROTC Alumni Association member and director, entrepreneur, ambassador to the world, lover of life, generous to a fault. Thanks from all of us!

1997 Afterword

Erd's health had been on the decline over the past several years. About two years ago, he endured a lengthy stay in the hospital, and most people assumed the end was near. But somehow he pulled through. He was not able to resume the fudge business, but he engaged himself again in his charitable pursuits and his involvement with the NROTC Unit. However, late in 1996 he took a turn for the worse and this time his generous heart gave out. Erd died on February 5 at the Madison Veterans' Administration Hospital. His funeral service was conducted on February 10 by Pastor Larry D. Theis at Mount Olive Lutheran Church, and he was buried in uniform with military honors in the veterans' section in the southeast corner of Forest Hill Cemetery in Madison.

Erds's sons, Mark and Scott, sent the following note of thanks to the members of the UW NROTC Alumni Association (which shows that the Erd spirit lives on; italics added)

"Ladies and Gentlemen, Your alumni association meant a great deal to my father. We sincerely appreciate the beautiful arrangement of flowers you sent to show your sympathy. Following the services, we had your arrangement taken to the VA hospital where other veterans could enjoy them."