Penny, James Francis 1946-2024

PENNY, REDDY, SMITH, GULLING, JENKINS, KEARNEY

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/18/2024 at 13:43:15

James Francis Penny
July 7, 2024 (age 77)

James Francis Penny, 77, of Newton, died Sunday, July 7, 2024, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. His family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m., Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. Memorials to the American Stroke Association can be left at the funeral home.

Jim, the son of James Ward and Mary Agnes (Reddy) Penny, was born December 17, 1946, in Estherville. He grew up in Newton and was a graduate of Newton High School in the Class of 1965. He then attended Marshalltown Community College. Jim began working for The Maytag Company in 1970 and worked in several departments—including sheet metal—before entering the Supervisor Training Program in 1974. He then became the Supervisor Coordinator in Automatic Assembly. In 1984, he became the supervisor-coordinator in dryer assembly. He later became the Superintendent of Plant 2 stores and transportation, where he worked until Maytag closed in 2007.

Jim was united in marriage with Glenna Smith on April 19, 1984, in Newton. Together, the couple enjoyed traveling, as Jim was always on the go. From 2010-2017, they enjoyed taking their motorhome to Tucson, AZ for the winter months. During his retirement, Jim returned to riding a motorcycle and bought a new Harley-Davidson that he enjoyed taking to Arizona. Jim was also an avid golfer and a loyal Iowa Hawkeye fan—especially when it came to football He also enjoyed going out to dinner with friends and playing pickleball. In his later years, he enjoyed visits from family and friends, and especially from his dog, Bean.

Jim is survived by his wife, Glenna of Newton; his children, Judd Penny of Winterset and Jolie Gulling of Baxter; his stepson, Justin Jenkins (Kristal) of Carlisle; grandchildren, Marley Jenkins and Kennedy Gulling, and her son, LJ; his sisters, Mary Jane Penny of Portland, OR and Judy Kearney of Brooklyn, NY; his sister-in-law, Mary Penny of Newton; and his nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Jack Penny; and a brother-in-law, Christopher Smith, Sr.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Francis Penny, please visit our floral store.

Services
VISITATION
Tuesday
July 16, 2024
5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory
1115 E. 19th St. N.
Newton, IA 50208-2539 ~ The Wallace Family Funeral Home, Newton, Iowa 07 July 2024.