Robert Allan Pohnl

Robert Allan “Ponch” Pohnl, age 78, of Rhinelander, passed away unexpectedly at his home on November 15, 2011. He was born on January 4, 1933 to Martha Pohnl-Terzynski. He graduated from Rhinelander High School in 1951 where he lettered in football, basketball and baseball. He was a member of the state tournament basketball team, Badger Boys State in summer of 1950, and played for the famous Rhinelander Shorty’s baseball team from 1951-1952. After high school, he attended UW-Eau Claire where he played football, until he was drafted into the Korean War. He served in the US Army in Korea from 1952-1955. After he returned home, he worked for the Rhinelander Paper Company and played semi-pro football for the Merrill Foxes. He met his bride, Kay, in Rhinelander in the summer of 1957. They were married on June 20, 1959 and celebrated 50 years of marriage in 2009. In the fall of 1959, they moved to Appleton where Bob returned to college playing baseball for UW-Oshkosh until he graduated with a degree in Geology, History and a minor in Coaching in 1961. After graduation, Bob and Kay returned to Rhinelander where he worked for the Oneida County Department of Social Services as a Juvenile Probation Officer until retiring in the late 1980’s. Bob was an avid golfer, a member of the Athletic Booster Club, elected member of the Hodag Hall of Fame in 1990, strong supporter of Rhinelander Athletics and Hodag Facilities Foundation. He also coached many sports throughout the years including: Little League, Babe Ruth, American Legion, Little Hodags, Pop Warner Football and Rhinelander Junior High and High School Football until retiring in 2003. He was also a referee and umpire for football, basketball and baseball throughout the years. Bob loved watching the Badgers, Brewers, Bucks and Packers, of which he was a proud stock holder. Bob liked to scrapbook items about his personal, family and Rhinelander histories. Bob was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He had wonderful times on family vacations to; Virginia, Washington DC, South Dakota, the Baseball Hall of Fame in New York, the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio including visiting Florida where they visited Disney World, Panama City Beach and the Pensacola Naval Air Station. Most of all Bob truly loved spending time with his family, especially his three grandchildren and his two-year old great-granddaughter.

Bob is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kay (Gilbertson), daughter Laurie Pohnl; son Tom and daughter-in-law Lori Pohnl; grandchildren Mary (Derrick) Vanzo, Bobbi Jo Pohnl, and Danny Pohnl and great grand-daughter Ellie Vanzo. He is also survived by a brother Ed (Ruth) Terzynski, niece Amy, and nephew Mark (Heidi). He was preceded in death by his mother Martha, his in-laws Kris and Ethel Gilbertson and his uncles Robert Pohnl and John Pohnl. Bob will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

Funeral Services will be held at First United Methodist Church on Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 2:00 PM with Rev. Rebecca Niese officiating. Interment will follow at Northland Memorial Park. Visitation will be Friday November 18, 2011 from 4:00-7:00 PM at Hildebrand-Russ Funeral Home there will be visitation one hour prior to the service on Saturday at the church. A Memorial has been established in Bob’s name and donations may be made to the Athletic Booster Club or the Hodag Facilities Foundation.

Rhinelander’s Hildebrand-Russ Funeral Home, 715-365-4343, is assisting the family with arrangements and invites all to sign Bob’s guest book on-line at hildebrandfh.com.