Penning, Doris Mae (infant), 1941

PENNING, KLEIN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/23/2022 at 22:10:40

From the Alton Democrat, July 25, 1941:

Incubator Baby Lived Four Months

Doris Mae, the baby daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ed Penning of Granville, died Friday morning at 2:45, after a brave struggle for life. Weighing only 3 lbs. and 7 ounces at birth the little mite started with a considerable handicap, but she was taken to the LeMars hospital and kept in an incubator for two months. Making good progress, she was returned to her home but at the end of a month there she was found to have a broken leg, from what cause the parents and doctors were unable to determine. The baby was then returned to the hospital and given every care the past month. The injured leg was improving and she had gained in every way, weighing 7½ lbs. and the parents and doctors were encouraged about her chances for recovery, when the baby suddenly developed an illness which caused its passing, at the age of four months and three days.

Funeral services for the baby were held Friday afternoon in charge of Rev. Dalhoff and she was laid to rest in St. Joseph’s cemetery. The parents and brothers and sisters have the sympathy of many friends in their loss.

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RESEARCH NOTES

Her death certificate (informant Edward Penning) has Doris May Penning, resident of R.F.D. #1, Granville; born at Granville March 15, 1941; parents Edward Penning and Anna Klein, both born in Granville; died at the Sacred Heart Hospital, Le Mars, where she had been for 1 month, at 3 a.m. July 18, 1941; cause, congenital heart defect, duration 4 months; other conditions: fractured femur, duration 1 month, and [illegible] and prematurity, duration 4 months.

Her FindaGrave.com page also has her as Doris Mae, with a photo of her headstone; buried in Saint Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Granville; parents Edward Peter Penning (1905-1990) and Anna Priscilla Josephina Klein Penning (1909-1991).

The Alton Democrat of March 21, 1941 reported that Mr. and Mrs. Ed Penning are parents of a baby boy [girl] weighing 3 lbs. 7 ounces, born March 15, taken to the LeMars hospital and placed in an incubator.

See the obituaries of Edward P. Penning and Anna P. Penning for details on the family.