Lawrence Gene Penner

LAWRENCE GENE PENNER Lawrence "Larry" Gene Penner, 89, passed peacefully from this earth with his family by his side on December 7, 2025, in North Newton, Kansas. Larry often said he lived a good life and had been blessed with far more than he deserved. He was born on March 11, 1936, in Hillsboro, Kansas, the only son of Paul Milton and Brunhilda Cecelia Auernheimer Penner (her complex name probably explains why she was fondly called "Toots"). His sister, Mary Elizabeth, joined the family six years later. Growing up in the small town of Hillsboro, Larry found that options for entertainment were few: church, school, and sports. Larry chose sports. He also spent summers accompanying his father in the family plumbing business. He was baptized by Rev. H. T. Unruh and joined the First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro, Kansas, in 1952. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1954. During his high school years, Larry became deeply involved in school sports. He earned eleven varsity letters and competed at the state track meet during his senior year. College was the next chapter of his life. Although his home in Hillsboro was just steps away from Tabor College, Larry chose to attend Bethel College since Tabor did not offer football. Many positive experiences marked his four years at Bethel. He graduated in 1958 with a degree in Business Administration. He liked to joke that he graduated in four years only because he ran out of athletic eligibility. Athletically, he excelled at Bethel, earning eleven varsity letters, leading NAIA Division II small-college football in punting for all four years, and contributing to Bethel's first two KCAC championship basketball teams in 1955-56 and 1956-57. He was named to the KCAC All-Conference first teams in football and basketball in both 1957 and 1958. The championship teams held a special place in his heart, and the friendships formed lasted a lifetime. With three Larrys and one Jerry on the roster, Coach George Buhr often found himself surprised by who came off the bench when he called for a substitute. The most significant blessing from his Bethel years occurred in 1957 when he married Karen Suderman, who proudly considered Aulne, Kansas, her hometown. The two had attended high school together in Hillsboro and began dating during his junior year at Bethel. They were married on September 1, 1957, in the Ebenfeld Mennonite Brethren Church, After his graduation in 1958, Larry and Karen made their home in Newton. They became members of the Bethel College Mennonite Church, where he served as an usher and held several financial roles. They celebrated 68 years of marriage in 2025 and raised two children, their son, Murray, and daughter, Diana. Larry was immensely proud of them as they grew into successful adults. Following graduation, Larry served six months of active duty in the U.S. Army and six years in the U.S. Army Reserves. After his discharge from active duty in April 1959, he began working for Hesston Corporation in the accounting department. A college graduate earning less than two dollars an hour, he often joked about those early wages. He remained with the company through multiple name, ownership, and marketing transitions, retiring in October 1998 after nearly 40 years of service. Of the many roles he held, his final eight years as Master Scheduler were the most fulfilling. In 1975, his mother, "Toots," passed away unexpectedly. Several years later, his father remarried, and Larry gained a stepmother, Katherine Hiebert, along with three stepbrothers: Paul (who was already a brother-in-law!), Robert, and Charles. As his athletic days wound down, Larry turned to golf, hunting, fishing, and following sports on television and at Bethel College. As an active member of the Bethel College Athletic Booster Club, Larry proudly embodied the spirit of "ROLL ON." His collection of over 40 Rio Grande wild turkey beards was a point of pride, as were the memories of his loyal English setter hunting dogs, Babe I and Babe II, and hunting trips with many different friends. Fishing at the family pond with Murray, Diana, Doug, Rodney, Lynda, and others was also one of his favorite activities in his later years. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Jonas and Helen Suderman; stepmother, Katherine Hiebert Penner; brothers-in-law, Paul Hiebert and Gilbert Suderman; cousin, Doug Penner (whom he also referred to as his brother from another mother); and nephew, Kevin Beck. He is survived by his wife Karen of the home; son Murray Penner of Washington, D.C.; daughter Diana (Justin) Reaume of Forks, Washington; sister Mary (Albert) Beck of Velva, North Dakota; grandchildren Chance Parrish, Bailey Penner, and Gabriel Reaume; sisters-in-law Elaine Suderman and Marilynn Hiebert; brothers-in-law Rodney (Shirley) Suderman and Joel (Dawn) Suderman; stepbrothers Robert (Eddie) Hiebert and Charles (Lettie Fleetwood) Hiebert; and twelve nieces and nephews. Larry believed he lived a blessed life, more than he ever deserved. He acknowledged his mistakes and offered apologies to anyone affected by them. Relationships were important to Larry, and to that end, he was very proud to call many others his "children." Special to him were Blaine Parrish and Jose Pecho; Anthony and Tami Garcia; and Lynda and Rita Voth. He truly believed that God loves ALL of His children. Other special relationships for Larry include the Beaver Bunch (O-Mar-Lar-Ke - the Goertzen's, Frey's, Rhoades', and Penner's); Raylene Penner, Jane Hershberger, George Leary, and his Oklahoma City Mastery family. He was also very fond of the staff at Kidron Bethel, who provided him with encouragement, comfort, and entertainment in the last four months of his life. Larry's Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 11:00 am at Bethel College Mennonite Church in North Newton, Kansas. To view Larry's Celebration of Life, use this link: https://youtube.com/live/pqCvRlpvxQQ?feature=share, or visit Bethel College Mennonite Church's website or YouTube page. Larry requested cremation, so there will be no visitation prior to his Celebration of Life. In lieu of flowers, Larry suggested memorials go to Bethel College Athletic Booster Club or Bethel College Mennonite Church, c/o Petersen's Funeral Home. "A time to be born, and a time to die. To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8) (NOTE: Larry wrote his own obituary. Murray and Diana have slightly altered and updated his original words. We believe we have kept his original intent intact, and we are grateful for his forethought and for taking much of the load off of us!)