Milferd Penner

Milferd Penner, 85, died suddenly on Tuesday morning, November 4, 2014, at his rural Inman home. Born to Frank and Bertha Penner, January 16, 1929, he never lived anywhere other than his beloved Section 27. Growing up on the farm, Mil loved the land and its beauty, and the wildlife that found refuge there. He married Verna Lee Enns in 1950 and they enjoyed life on the farm for 64 wonderful years. A farmer, and always interested in soil conservation, he began Penner Earthmoving in 1968 and co-founded Inman Irrigation eight years later. His wife Verna Lee and son Murray worked with him in these ventures. He went on to photograph and write books about Kansas and the midwest prairie, including Kansas Journeys and Prairie: The Land and Its People, and most recently Section 27: A Century on a Family Farm. His daughter Liz King designed and produced many of these books and they were currently working on his latest project, The Tractors of Section 27. His love of the land and people of Kansas led him to co-found the Kansas Sampler Foundation with daughter Marci Penner in 1992. Together they wrote Kansas Weekend Guide featuring the rural culture of the towns and attractions noted in their book. Beginning on the Penner farm, 25 years later this tradition continues as the Kansas Sampler Festival. When Mil was not writing, he loved working in his wood shop, chain-sawing and doing chores around the farm with his tractor, and eating VLee's food. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Alyssa Penner, a graduate and staff member of University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; Sofia King, a student at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; and Paulina King, a student at Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey. Survivors are son Murray Reimer Penner and wife Nadine Reimer Penner of Wichita, their daughter Alyssa and partner Ragnar Thorisson; Marci Penner and partner WenDee LaPlant of Inman; Beth (Liz) King and husband Tom King of Atherton, California and their daughters Sofia and Paulina; sister Marvella Ratzlaff and husband Marlan Ratzlaff of Moundridge; sister Rachel Schmidt and husband Randy Schmidt of Eudora; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. A memorial service to celebrate his life will take place Tuesday morning, November 11 at the Inman Community Building, Center and Walnut streets. Doors will open at 10 a.m. to visit with the family, a program will begin at 11 a.m. and a light lunch will follow. A memorial fund has been established for contributions to the Kansas Sampler Foundation, 978 Arapaho Road, Inman, Kansas 67546 in care of “The Dad Fund.”

Milferd Penner

January 16, 1926 - November 4, 2014