Norine (Swanson) PENNINGS

SWANSON, PENNINGS, HENDRICKSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/29/2016 at 13:56:21

June 27, 1926 ---- September 1, 2011

Norine Pennings, age 85, of Zeeland, passed into her Lord's presence on Thursday, September 1, 2011 after a brief, but courageous battle with cancer.

Norine was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan on June 27, 1926 to Harold and Henrietta Swanson. She graduated from Ottawa Hills High School in 1944 and from St. Mary's School of Nursing in 1948. She served as a missionary nurse at Annville Institute in Kentucky from 1949-1951, and was the first registered nurse from Kent County to serve with the Red Cross in Colorado during the polio epidemic in 1951. In her later years, she worked as a hospice nurse in New Jersey and a parish nurse in Zeeland.

On May 20, 1955, Norine was united in marriage to Burrell Pennings. For 56 years she was a dedicated and active pastor's wife, serving churches in Indianapolis, IN; Lincoln, NE; Des Moines, IA; Clara City, MN; Alexander, IA and Wyckoff, NJ. After moving to Zeeland, she was a member of First Reformed Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher and member of the Ladies Aide. She will be remembered for her gift of hospitality and being a compassionate listener and a loyal friend.

Norine is survived by her children, Beth of Moorhead, MN, Tim of Holland and Daniel of Xi'an, China; her sister, Wanda Hendrickson, of Grandville, 4 nieces and 5 nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and an infant brother.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, September 3, 2011, at the First Reformed Church of Zeeland, 148 E. Central Ave., Zeeland. The Reverend Scott Van Oostendorp will officiate. Visitation will be 5-7 pm, Friday at the Yntema Funeral Home, 251 S. State Street, Zeeland. Interment will be Zeeland Cemetery. Memorial gifts may be given to KFNW Radio, Fargo, ND or OMF International, Littleton, CO.