John Charles Penson

John C Penson, 73, of Phoenix, Az., passed away on March 8, 2026 at Arrowhead Abrazo Hospital in Glendale Az. He was born Oct. 25, 1952 in Kansas City Missouri as the eldest son of two children to Gerald and Mertyee Lou Penson. His brother Craig was born in 1956.

He graduated from Raytown South High School in 1971. He held various jobs throughout his life including making steel beams in a steel plant, delivering magazines to a variety of stores for Kansas City Periodicals, working as a machinist, and eventually earning his CDL license. He worked his final 20 years delivering rock and gravel to residential and commercial construction (primarily construction) sites throughout the greater Phoenix area as well as other parts of the state.

In 1977 John married Loretta Cooney and in 17 years they had three children, Leanne (John) Stafford, in 1980, Rebecca Penson in 1981 and Ryan Penson in 1983.

While in Kansas City John was active in the sports community with the Johnson County Football league where coached youth football and also served as sportsmanship director. He also coached youth wrestling and girls softball. He was a roadie and sound man for a local band, Redwood, and remained friends with band members recalling memories of their adventures until his death.

John and Loretta divorced in 1994 and he relocated to Phoenix Az in 1996 where he lived with his parents until he met and married Sheri Benson in 2000. They lived in the Phoenix area until his passing.

He was an avid Kansas City Chiefs and Missouri Tigers football fan. He enjoyed country and rock music and playing Texas Hold'em poker. He was a Moose Lodge member since 2018.

A celebration of life memorial will be held on March 28th at 2 p.m. at the Glendale Moose Lodge, 9550 W. Peoria Ave., Peoria AZ 85345.