Floyd F. Penkhus (1919-2014)

PENKHUS, SIEBEL, SEIBEL, CHASE, COLLINS

Posted By: Mark Christian
Date: 2/1/2014 at 13:16:53

Obituary From Adams Soderstrum Funeral Home, Story County, Iowa.

Floyd F. Penkhus was born June 19, 1919 to Henry and Kathryn Penkhus in Templeton, Iowa. Floyd graduated from Manning High School at the age of 16 and the American Institute of Business in Des Moines. On October 5th of 1941, he married Margaret Ethyl Siebel, his wife for 59 years, until her death at 80, in 2000. He worked for the Des Moines Register and Tribune and as an insurance salesman in his early career. He attended Drake University until he enlisted in the United States Air Corps. Lt. Penkhus flew 68 strategic and tactical bombing missions as a B-25 First Pilot in WWII, in both the European and China-Burma-India war theaters. He became Operations Officer and squadron leader. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with six oak leaf clusters. He returned to California to be a an Operations Officer and a flight instructor and was honorably discharged in 1945 with the rank of Captain.

Floyd resumed his business career in Des Moines in 1946 as an owner of a dry cleaning store. In 1948, he moved to Ames, Iowa and became partner of Hoeppner Penkhus Lincoln Mercury with his two brothers, Jerome and Robert. He later became proprietor of 20th Century Bowling and Skateland. Floyd was a member of Saint Cecelia’s Catholic Church, President of the Iowa and Quad State Bowling Proprietors Association, board member of the Ames Foundation and Mary Greeley Hospital and served two terms as Board Chairman of Ames Savings and Loan. He was a 50-year member of each the Elks Club, the Ames Country Club and the Ames Rotary Club. He loved Iowa State football and basketball and was a long time season ticket holder. Floyd was proud of his extensive involvement with Senior Citizens of Ames and the Special Olympics.

Floyd was a loving husband and devout family man. He enjoyed flying an airplane and kept his pilot’s license until he was 85. He loved golfing, traveling and spending time with family and friends. Floyd was invariably known as a generous, kind, and considerate. He was “true gentlemen”.

Floyd died January 5, 2014, at Eisenhower Hospital in Rancho Mirage, California at the age of 94.

Floyd is survived by two sons, Stephen and his wife, Martha of Mankato Minnesota and Mark and his wife, Cindy Chase, of Dallas, Texas; his grandsons, Todd, and his fiancé, Tammy, Tim and his wife, Laura and Adam and his wife, Ivana; his great-granddaughter, Lauren; his brothers, Jerome and his wife, Moe and Robert and his wife, Marilyn; brothers- in-law Dean Seibel, David Seibel and his wife, Barbara; numerous nieces, nephews; and his recent wife, Kyle Collins-Penkhus.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Penkhus; his granddaughter, Kathryn Penkhus; his daughter-in-law, Ann Penkhus; and brother and sisters in-law, Don and Margery Seibel and Inna Seibel.

A memorial service is being planned for April.

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