Lawrence A. Penner 72, died Monday, December 8, 2014 at Newton Medical Center.  He was born May 18, 1942 in Goessel, Kansas to Milton A. and Elda (Goertz) Penner.  He was baptized on August 25, 1957 at Johannestal Mennonite Church in Hillsboro by The Reverend Esko Loewen.  He was a 1960 graduate of Hillsboro High School and graduated from Bethel College in 1966. On September 1, 1963 he married Kathryn Pauls at Hoffnungsau Church in Rural Inman, Kansas and she survives of the home.  Lawrence was an active member of the Faith Mennonite Church in Newton where he enjoyed singing in the choir.  He also sang with the Kansas Mennonite Men’s Chorus.  After working 42 years he retired from ACGO in Hesston, Kansas as a steel buyer in the purchasing department.  Lawrence enjoyed woodworking, fishing, and golfing. He got his greatest joy being a loving husband, father and grandfather and brother. 

Lawrence is survived by his wife Kathryn of the home; sons: Darin and his wife Erica Penner of Mission, Kansas and Kyle and his wife Anne Penner of Wichita, Kansas; brothers: Ray Penner of North Newton, Kansas; Clayton Penner of Newton, Kansas and Stuart Penner of Hillsboro, Kansas and one sister Roseann Penner Kaufman of Prairie Village, Kansas.  He is also survived by 4 grandchildren Emory and Adeline and Jackson and William

Lawrence is preceded in death by his parents.

Due to construction at Lawrence’s home church a memorial service will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, December 12, 2014 at First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas with Pastor Rachel Siemens of Faith Mennonite Church presiding.  Visitation will be 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday evening at Petersen Funeral Home with the family receiving friends from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Private family burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery Newton, Kansas.

Memorials are suggested to Faith Mennonite Church or Bethel College  in care of Petersen Funeral Home

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