Penny Dawn Messerknecht

Penny Dawn Messerknecht, 76, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away at home after a battle with pancreatic cancer on February 3, 2026. A celebration of life service will take place at New Hope Presbyterian on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 1 p.m. (10051 Plantation Road, Fort Myers, FL 33966)

Penny was born to Glenn and Helen Russell on May 5, 1949, and grew up on a small farm in Waldo, Ohio. The third of four children and the first girl, she was an adventure seeker from a young age. After graduating from River Valley High School, she earned a B.S. in Home Economics Vocational Education from Bowling Green University. She and her then-husband moved to Kentucky, where she worked as a County Extension Officer in Boyd County. They later moved to Ohio, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Home Economics and Family Ecology with an emphasis in Child Development from Akron University, and pursued her career as a director of a private day care. Another move, this time to Michigan, opened doors to teaching. She earned another degree in biology from Oakland University. She spent the latter and greatest portion of her working years as a high school teacher in the Utica Community School System, teaching life skills and science classes.

Penny’s passions were many. She enjoyed reading, gardening, sewing, fabric and bead crafts, and especially painting. She took up painting with watercolors during the Covid pandemic and enjoyed sharing her creations with her family and friends. Her greatest passion was her friends. She collected people as many others collect art. She made an effort to be present in all of her relationships. She had a knack for making everyone feel like they were the most important person in the room. She was present, gave her full attention, listened with compassion, and laughed with great joy. She enjoyed traveling and saw much of the world, and in her retirement, enjoyed being part of the Evergreeners organization.

She was always active in her community. In her youth she was part of the Future Homemakers of American (FHA), the Buckeye Girls State, the Girl Scouts (as both a member and later as a leader of her daughters’ troop), her church choirs (again as a youth and adult leader), and a number of neighborhood bridge groups, book clubs, Bible studies, dominoes groups and lately the Gateway Women’s Club in Fort Myers, Florida.

Penny is survived by her children: Cindy Ward (Joseph), Cheri Hare (Christopher), her grandchildren: Andrew, Christian, Ryan, Jacob, Sarah, Elijah, and Lauren; her siblings Henry Russell (Judy), Francis Russell (Diana), Patricia Camarda (Charlie); and her nieces, nephews, and wonderful-nieces and wonderful-nephews. We all know she loved us best.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity that Penny supported with her own financial contributions:
1. New Hope Presbyterian is Penny’s home church. Donations with “Missions” in the memo will support various local and global charities. (https://www.newhopefortmyers.org/give/)
2. Classical Christian Academy is the PreK-12 school of her Florida grandchildren. CCA combines the benefits of home education and classical, Christian education to educate students and encourage them to love God and serve Him in all they do. (https://www.discovercca.org/supportus/)
3. Tunnel to Towers is another longtime charity Penny supported. They provide mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first responder families with young children, and build specially adapted smart homes for catastrophically injured veterans and first responders. (https://t2t.org/donate/)
4. Compassion International provides children who live in poverty all over the world with nutritious food, medical care, and protection from harm. (https://www.compassion.com/give/donate/)