Pamela Kraegel Houk, 63, died Sunday, February 6, 2011 at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home in Fort Wayne. Diagnosed in early October 2010 with stage-IV pancreatic cancer, Pam chose to spend her remaining life living, not dying. To the very end, she showed unrelenting courage, dignity and humor.
Family and teaching: Pam''s two passions. As a teacher of world history, sociology and German, Pam spent her adult life educating and inspiring generations of high school students. To all of her children - her students and her only daughterPam passed on a legacy of learning, tolerance, compassion,independence and self-respect.
Pam leaves behind her loving husband of 41 years, Frank Houk. In 1974, the two moved to Fort Wayne to begin teaching careers in Fort Wayne community Schools. Pam taught at South Side High School for 11 years and North Side High School for 16 years. For nine years prior to her retirement in June 2010, she taught German in Southwest Allen County Schools.
When not at school, Pam loved being at home, curled up on the couch with a crossword puzzle and mug of coffee. She found joy in spending an afternoon at the movies with her husband or while doting on her daughter and two young grandsons.
She is survived by her mother, Elizabeth Kraegel, a brother, Martin Kraegel Jr. and husband, all of whom reside in Ft. Wayne. Pam''s daughter, Erin Houk Juricak, lives with her husband and children in Cary, NC.
A memorial gathering will be 4:00-6:00 p.m. Thursday February 10 at Covington Memorial Funeral Home 8408 Covington Rd.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial gifts made to the Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home of Fort Wayne (www.vnhh.org) or The Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research (www.lustgarten.org).