FROM FACEBOOK__Daddy Daughter Dance with red carpet vibes: Roll out the red carpet and get ready for a night to remember! Dads (or special guests) and daughters are invited to dress to impress and enjoy an evening full of music, dancing, and Hollywood-style fun. Strike a pose as you arrive—our red carpet photographer will be on site, with photos available for purchase to capture these special moments.
Hummin' & Strummin' Song Circle will be held Mondays, January 5, 12, & 26 at 5:00 p.m. This is a relaxed, song-circle style music session and anyone is welcome to join or listen in and come and go as you need. Bring your instrument, voice, or listening ears!
Donald L. Pannabecker, Bluffton University emeritus faculty member, whose university tenure extended from 1964 to 1997, died on Jan. 17. His obituary is HERE.
By Fred Steiner
Bluffton Icon founder
Legend has it that Don Pannabecker arrived as a freshman at Bluffton College in a new 1954 Oldsmobile 98, driven by his mother… all the way from Peoria, Illinois. He brought with him a cello and a remarkably dry sense of humor.
Don’s choice of college, no doubt selected at birth by his parents, became a benefit to all who live in Bluffton. His contribution confirms the long-standing perception that Bluffton is such an interesting place because of the variety of people who call it home.
Donald Lloyd Pannabecker, aged 89, passed away on January 17, 2026, at Mennonite Memorial Home after a brief illness.
Don was born on August 13, 1936, to Charles Lloyd and Lelia Roth Pannabecker while his family was on a six-week furlough from China. He joined sisters Betty Jean (deceased) and Anita (surviving), with brother Danny (deceased) completing the family of six four years later. Don was raised in China his first four years where his father was a medical missionary and then grew up and graduated from High School in Peoria, Illinois.
Blue skies above but wind and snow below created whiteout conditions in many locations surrounding Bluffton on Monday, January 19. Level 2 roadway advisories were issued in Hancock and Hardin counties, while a Level 1 advisory was issued in Allen County.
MEDIA RELEASE__Bluffton University has announced its Dean’s List for the fall 2025 semester.
All undergraduate degree-seeking students with at least a half-time load of graded courses whose GPA for the period is no lower than 3.6 are named to the Dean’s List. Students on the Dean’s List whose cumulative GPA, as based on 20 semester hours, is no lower than 3.75 will be indicated as receiving distinction for continued high achievement.
