Dora V. (Woelk) Penner Obituary (1919 - 2012)

Dora V. (Woelk) Penner, 93 years of age, of Beatrice passed away at the Gold Crest Retirement Center in Adams, NE. Friday afternoon, September 7, 2012. She was born on March 18, 1919 at Goessel, Kansas to Peter and Helen (Schroeder) Woelk. She grew up on a farm north of Newton, Ks. and graduated from Goessel High School in 1937. Dora helped her parents on the farm for 2 years before attending and from Nurses Training at Axtell Christian Hospital in Newton graduating in 1942 as a Register Nurse. Dora and Fred P. Penner were married on March 25, 1945 near Goessel and they moved to a farm west of Beatrice in 1946. She had worked at the former Mennonite Hospital for 38 years retiring in 1984. Dora moved into Beatrice shortly after Fred's death. Dora was a member of the First Mennonite Church, R. Beatrice and had been involved in the Ladies Aid; and was a member of the Retired Nurses Association. Dora enjoyed reading, cross stitch, visiting her grandchildren and great grandchildren, and making their favorite food semmels. She also enjoyed watching sports (especially Nebraska football), and attending her grandchildren's graduations and weddings. Survivors include 2 daughters, Vera Friesen of Lincoln, and Janene Klaus and husband Alan of Kansas City, MO.; son Delbert Penner and wife Jeannie of Idar Oberstein, Germany; 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Dora was preceded in death by her parents Peter and Helen (Schroeder) Woelk; husband Fred (1991); sisters Elma Frey and Olga Franz; brothers Herbert and Rudolph Woelk; and son in law Dwight Friesen. Funeral services will held at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, September 11, 2012 at the First Mennonite Church, R. Beatrice with Reverend Brett Klingenberg officiating. Interment will be in the Mennonite Cemetery, R. Beatrice. The body will lie in state Monday from 10-9:00 at the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice with the family greeting friends from 7-9:00, and at the church one hour preceding the service on Tuesday. A family prayer service will be held at 10:45 A.M. Tuesday at the church. A memorial has been established to the church with Louis Goossen in charge. Sign Dora's guest book at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice.