PENNINGTON, Robert Wayne 1930-2001

PENNINGTON, VAN DOORNINCK, JONES

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 4/16/2011 at 13:55:19

DR. ROBERT PENNINGTON

OSAGE, IOWA - Dr. Robert Wayne Pennington, 70, of 626 Poplar, Osage, died Thursday (June 7, 2001) at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester of complications of melanoma.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Osage with the Rev. Rick Magstadt of the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church officiating. Burial will be in the Osage Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Sunday at Champion Funeral Home, 702 State St. in Osage and one hour prior to services at the church.

Bob Pennington was born June 26, 1930 in Washington County, Iowa. The son of the Rev. George C. and Minerva (Jones) Pennington, he lived his early years in small southeast Iowa towns. He graduated from Monroe, Iowa High School in 1948. From 1952 to 1956, he served in the U.S. Navy aboard the aircraft carrier Midway as a hospital corpsman and X-ray technician.

On June 5, 1954, in Monroe, he married his high school sweetheart and lifelong companion, Sarah "Sally" Van Doorninck. Daniel, Cynthia and Juli were born to them.

He studied at Iowa State University, graduating a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1962. He practiced in Osage from 1964 to 1991. After retiring from veterinary practice, he served as Mitchell County Supervisor from 1996 to 2000; promoting projects including the MCRHC-Osage Hospital and the new county jail.

He served his community through the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, the Osage Community School Board, the Osage Library Board and the Kiwanis Club.

From his boyhood he bred and raised pigeons and won many championships in the pigeon fancy. He enjoyed fishing, gardening and bird watching, and found great solace in the natural surroundings at the New Haven Potholes.

He loved to sing hymns in harmony and enjoyed a house filled with music. His quick wit and deep laugh betrayed a tender heart. He faced life without pretense and made fun of life's indignities. He valued hard work and integrity.

Above all, bob treasured his faith in Christ and his family. He enjoyed his veterinary profession, his camaraderie with farmers, quiet times with his birds, the morning coffee group and travels to explore new places.

Those so thankful for sharing his life are his wife, Sally; son, Dr. Daniel Pennington, of Mason City, along with his wife, Joan and children, Laura and Claire; a daughter, Cynthia Walton, of Bangkok, Thailand, with her husband, Kevin and children, Joshua, Amy, Jonathan and Lukas; and a daughter, Juli Servatius, of Maplewood, Minn., with her husband, John. He is also survived by his mother, Minerva Pennington, of Columbus Junction, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, the Rev. George Pennington; and a brother, John Pennington.

Memorials may be sent to the Bob Pennington Memorial Fund to support Bob's interest in his church, nature conservation and cancer research.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, (641) 732-3706.

Globe Gazette, June 9, 2001 - ncigs.org