Staff Sgt. Denis Panrin, z”l

Staff Sergeant Denis Panrin, the youngest child of Valentina and Alexander and brother to Talia and Oshrit, was born in Izmail, in southern Ukraine. His birth brought great joy to his parents, sisters, grandmother Polina, and grandfather Vasily, who lovingly cared for the baby and showered him with attention and affection.

He grew up in a warm and loving family. His mother was a chemistry teacher and his father an electronics and electrical engineer – a field that fascinated Denis from an early age. During school vacations, he would spend time with his family at his grandfather’s summer house. He tended to the animals, worked in the vegetable fields surrounding the home, and enjoyed the fruit from the orchard. He was a friendly child who always found a way to get along with everyone, with a constant, charming smile, loving and loved in return.

Denis studied for five years in the local elementary school. In late 2000, at the age of eleven, he and his family immigrated to Israel. They settled in the city of Be’er Sheva. At first, Denis attended “Re’ut” Elementary School in the town. A year later, he transferred to the WIZO Nachlat Yehuda Youth Village – an academic agricultural boarding school for grades 7–12 in the Nachlat Yehuda neighborhood of Rishon LeZion – where he completed his high school studies. Denis quickly became well integrated into the student community. He was an outstanding student, undertaking numerous complex projects and earning numerous certificates of appreciation. A kind-hearted young man, he was always the first to volunteer and the first to lend a hand, respected and well-liked by both his friends and the staff. He was optimistic, loved life, and radiated joy.

Denis had a great love for computers. He had a special passion for electronics engineering and enjoyed working alongside his father. Despite his many talents, he was humble and modest, with strong motivation and determination to succeed and move forward.

In March 2008, Denis enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces. He was assigned to the Combat Engineering Corps and was a dedicated and capable soldier. True to his nature, he strove to carry out every mission in the best possible way.

Denis had many plans and dreams. He dreamed of completing his military service, then studying engineering, deepening his knowledge of computers, starting a family, and living close to his loved ones.

On August 1, 2010, Denis fell in the line of duty. He was 20 years old. He was laid to rest in the military cemetery in Be’er Sheva. On his headstone, his family inscribed in Russian, Denis’s mother tongue: “Forgive us for not being there when it happened. We remember, we love, and we will never forget.”

May his memory be blessed.