David Anthony Penza

RACINE - David Anthony Penza, 19, passed away at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center in Gilbert, Ariz. on Sunday, September 7, 2008, following a courageous five-year battle with cancer. David was born in Racine on March 4, 1989, son of Frank Leahy Penza and Cheryl Kay Penza. David was a Racine resident his entire life. David graduated from eighth grade at Union Grove Christian School and then from 12th grade at Washington Park High School in 2007. David had a passion to serve at his church, First Evangelical Free Church in Racine. He served as a leader in the Awana ministry as well as assisting with his HS Youth Group. He took part in many missions trips, one of them to Jamaica. Dave loved sports and started his sports career in RYS (Racine Youth Sports) playing football and baseball. He also participated in basketball while attending UGCS and was on the golf team at Park High School (Dave loved golf!). His greatest passion was to glorify God in all he did throughout his life. He enjoyed reading the word of God (the Bible) and his favorite verse was Jeremiah 29:11. He was not ashamed to give God the glory when he shared his faith with others. Dave had many opportunities to speak for different groups including the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, Fullness of Life Foundation, as well as the Milwaukee Brewers Chapel Service. He had shared the platform with people such as Ron Haggie, a motivational speaker, as well as Sherry Lund, an advocate for integrative medicine. David was an incredibly unique person with a spirit of humility, faith, and love for others. David is survived by his parents, Frank and Cheryl Penza; siblings, Michael Penza, Kristin (nee: Penza) Bodnar, Daniel Penza, Kimberly Penza, and Faith Penza; grandparents, Kenneth and Delores Liesner; as well as many other relatives and friends too numerous to mention by name. Funeral services will be held at Calvary Memorial Church, 4001 Washington Avenue, on Saturday, September 13, 2008, at 2 p.m. A luncheon to continue celebrating David's life will immediately follow the service. Visitation will be at Calvary Memorial Church on Saturday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Penza family; or to the Dave Penza Fund at Educators Credit Union, P.O. Box 081040, Racine, Wis. 53408. The last five years of David's life were spent battling cancer, first in his knee and then in his lungs. We would like to thank the people at Fullness of Life Foundation and Envita Medical Center in Scottsdale, Ariz.; Koos for Kids in Racine; and our church family at First Evangelical Free Church; as well as many relatives and friends who have supported and prayed for David throughout his life. David's family is thankful he is now with the Lord Jesus...to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord! DRAEGER-LANGENDORF FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY 4600 County Line Road (corner of KR & Meachem) 552-9000 www.draeger-langendorf.com