Dr. Marion S. Panepinto

Dr. Panepinto was born on May 20, 1938, in Waco, TX, the son of Dr. John Joseph and Josephine Cimo Panepinto. He married Dorothy “Bebe” Driscoll on May 26, 1962.

His 61 years of marriage were filled with countless family celebrations, travel, and building lifetime memories with the love of his life whom he met in Europe on a college class trip. He reveled in his role as father and grandfather, from fishing, golfing, boating, biking to partaking in spirited family dinners. A voracious reader, he had a fondness for history and World War II.

Dr. Panepinto will always be remembered for his extraordinary compassion in all facets of his life. He was a devoted friend and relative to many, especially in their time of need. The consummate physician, he always put his patients first, regardless of their status.

Dr. Panepinto graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame in 1960 and graduated cum laude from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1963, where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. After completing an internship at St. Louis University Hospitals, he served his country in the Vietnam War as a battalion surgeon with the First Infantry Division. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Combat Medic Badge, and the Vietnam Service Medal. After an honorable discharge from the Army, he completed his specialty training at the University of Iowa Hospitals in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. In 1970, Dr. Panepinto joined Springfield Clinic in the early days of development of cardiology and cardiac surgery in Springfield. He was past president of the Sangamon County Medical Society and Sangamon County Heart Association. Dr. Panepinto was a member of the teaching faculty of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine since its inception and retired as a Clinical Professor of Medicine. The education of medical students was very important to him, and he devoted much of his time toward that end. Dr. Panepinto served on the boards of Contact Ministries, YMCA, and the Memorial Medical Center Foundation. He was a co-director of the intensive care unit at Memorial Medical Center. He was a member of the Sanibel Current Events Group, Sanibel Bicycle Club, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and the Porch Think Tank, where he cherished his time spent with friends enjoying coffee and current events.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy “Bebe” Panepinto of Springfield; four daughters, Celeste (husband, Robert) Marsh III of Darien, CT; Dr. Julie (husband, Dr. David Brousseau) Panepinto of Wilmington, DE, Michele (husband, Michael) Mannion of Springfield, and Ellen (husband, Mark) Meyer of Western Springs, IL; 13 grandchildren, Robert Marsh IV of Brooklyn, NY, Ethan Marsh of Charleston, SC, Peter Marsh of Darien, CT, Joseph Brousseau of Milwaukee, WI, Andrew Brousseau of Madison, WI, and Thomas Brousseau of Notre Dame, IN, Dr. Matthew Mannion of Akron, OH, Ellen Mannion of St. Louis, MO, Colin Mannion of Columbus, OH, Aileen Mannion of Springfield, Katherine Meyer of St. Louis, MO, Meredith Meyer and Luke Meyer, both of Western Springs, IL; one sister, Mary Celeste Panepinto Greenwell of Lexington, KY; several nieces and nephews; and dear cousin, Dr. Philip (wife, Diane) Cimo of Houston, TX.

Visitation: Family will receive family and friends from 4:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2023, at Christ the King Catholic Church, 1930 Barberry Dr., Springfield.

Funeral Mass: 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Christ the King Catholic Church with Rev. Chris House, celebrant.

Private family burial will be held at Camp Butler National Cemetery with military honors.

Memorial contributions may be made to SIU Research Scholars, P.O. Box 19666, Springfield, IL 62794-9666.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield.