Walter Raymond Penney 1923-2013

PENNEY, HERKO

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/28/2013 at 10:43:28

Sioux City Journal
24 January 2013

SIOUX CITY | Walter Raymond Penney, 89, of Duluth, Minn., formerly of Sioux City, passed away Jan. 22, 2013 at his residence.

His ashes will be interred in Australia, because he always hoped to return there.

Born on Nov. 24, 1923, in Haberfield, N.S.W, Australia, he had four siblings. Walter enlisted in the Merchant Marines during World War II, and met his wife, Olga Herko, (deceased) of Sioux City, in New York City. He applied for U.S. citizenship and they returned to Sioux City, where they made their home and raised three children, Preston Mark, (deceased), Vicki Rohner, of Hawaii, and Christine Penney, of Minnesota.

Walter used his engineering background to start a construction company and later applied for a job with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Omaha Division. He was stationed at the Strategic Air Command in Sioux City and rose to the position of resident engineer, with postings as various as Gavins Point Dam in Yankton, S.D., Minot, N.D., and Sheridan, Wyo. At the time of retirement, he was at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., St. Louis Division.

Walter obtained a pilot license, which he used extensively to oversee construction projects in that area. He was also one of the first men in the U.S. to build a VariEze experimental aircraft by hand, one of the proudest achievements of his life.

He is survived by his daughters; a grandson, Preston Carl Rohner; extended family in Australia; as well as stepdaughters, Sandra and Susan Sheldon of St. Louis, Mo.

Sympathy cards to the family may be sent to Vicki Rohner at 77-6462 Walua Road, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740.