Verna Lee Penner

Verna Lee Penner, 88, of rural Inman died peacefully September 21, 2019 at Hospice House of Reno County, Hutchinson with her children by her side. The daughter of Dietrich and Anna (Wiens) Enns, she was born January 27, 1931 in Hutchinson, the youngest of six sisters. She grew up on an orchard farm in the sand hills west of Inman. She attended Inman High (Class of 1948) and there met Milferd Penner. After graduating from Hutchinson Junior College in 1950, they married later that summer and moved into a little farmhouse on the Penner land, Section 27. With marriage, Verna Lee (VLee) gained two wonderful sisters-in-law, Marvella and Rachel. VLee worked with Mil at Penner Earthmoving, Inman Irrigation, played organ at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, hosted Christmas parties at the Kansas Sampler Center, and was a long-time volunteer at the Kansas Sampler Foundation. VLee was raised in a loving family. There are many memories of regular gatherings, especially when her mom and sisters would gather for Sunday faspa and share stories accompanied with laughter and love. As Mom was the youngest and last sister to survive, she became very close with her nieces and nephews who stayed in touch with her to the end. She was also part of the “Frenchies,” a group that included her daughters and daughters-in-law, granddaughters, and a niece and her daughters, who traveled and celebrated life milestones together. VLee and Mil had three children, Murray, Marci and Beth (Liz). VLee saw each child find their life partners whom she loved dearly, and helped her three granddaughters grow into strong young women. VLee was happiest when outside on the farm, mowing on her riding lawn mower and simply enjoying the sunshine. In earlier years she would go on early morning walks or swim laps in the pond. She and Mil planted numerous specimen trees around the farm, in addition to a large prairie, and enjoyed their rural oasis. VLee was preceded in death by her parents, husband Milferd (2014), sisters Esther (Jake) Doerksen, Selma (Jake) Graber, Hilda (Henry) Ediger, Adena (Milton) Herbert, Ruthanna (John) Willems, her parents-in-law, Frank and Bertha Penner, and sister-in-law Rachel (Randy) Schmidt. She is survived by her children Murray Reimer Penner (Nadine), Wichita; Marci Penner (WenDee Rowe), Inman; Beth (Liz) King (Tom), Park City, UT; grandchildren Alyssa Penner (Naveen Makineni), Seattle, WA; Sofia King, Chicago, IL; and Paulina King, Los Angeles, CA; sister-in-law Marvella (Marlan) Ratzlaff; and many loving nieces, nephews and friends. An organ concert was held at Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church with and for VLee with family and relatives on September 15. An informal gathering to share memories will be held Saturday, October 5, at the Kansas Sampler Center, 978 Arapaho Road, Inman at 10 a.m. with a brunch to follow. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Kansas Sampler Foundation.

Verna Lee Penner

January 27, 1931 - September 21, 2019