Maurine M. Penny

Mrs. Maurine Melita Helena (Meyer) Penny died peacefully at the Lemay Health and Rehabilitation Facility in Fort Collins, Colorado, on December 5, 2019. She was 95 years young. Maurine is survived by her daughter, LaRae Penny; son, Robert Penny; daughter-in-law. Orly Penny; and grandchildren, Deborah, Jonathan and Annette Penny. She is preceded in death by an infant daughter, infant son, John, and her husband, Howard J. Penny. Maurine was born on September 9, 1924, in rural Bricelyn, Minnesota, to Laura and Edward Meyer. On July 20, 1944, she eloped and married Howard J. Penny, then a Lt. in the US Navy, in Corpus Christy, Texas, where Howard was stationed. She received teaching degrees from Mankato State College in Minnesota and Buena Vista State College in Iowa. She later earned a Master of Arts degree from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa. Maurine taught elementary school in Freeborn, Minnesota, Ida Grove, Iowa, and Audubon, Iowa where she was a special education teacher. Following the death of her husband in 1989 and her subsequent retirement from teaching, Maurine moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, where she put her special education teaching skills to work. She tutored many students from local elementary schools with patience and generosity. Thereafter Maurine devoted her time to her home, her garden and her three grandchildren. Maurine was an avid gardener and baker. Her apple pies, peanut butter cookies, and cranberry bread kept her family and friends happy. Maurine also served as a hostess at McDonald’s, where she enjoyed greeting people. She volunteered at the local hospital’s second hand store, and was a member of the Retired Military Wives Association. She loved to play Bingo, dance the Polka, bake and garden. She taught many of us the factor of 9’s trick. She recorded herself reading children’s books. During road trips to visit grandma and grandpa, her grandkids listened to her reading to them, while turning the pages when she instructed them to do so. A Funeral Service is scheduled for Friday, January 3, 2020 at 1:00 pm at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Kiester, Minnesota. Interment, with immediate family only, will take place at the Rice Lake Cemetery, near Kiester, before the service. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://act.alz.org/, or Pathways Hospice of Northern Colorado at https://pathways-care.org/ways-to-give/.

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Maurine M. Penny

September 9, 1924 - December 5, 2019