Gregory Wayne Penner, 62, passed away April 18at home in western Harvey County, Kansas with his wife, Patsy at his side, ending a valiant fight against cancer. He was born August 14, 1950 in Newton to Wilbert (Bud) and Eileen Grattan Penner. He attended Halstead schools and Wichita State University, studying drafting and engineering and later learned CNC machine programming. He lived in the Boulder, Colorado area for several years where he worked as a skilled carpenter. When he returned to Kansas he worked at Hesston Corp. now Agco, for over 30 years until he retired in 2011.
He married Patsy (Patricia) Hanson Harper December 26, 1981. Her yooung daughter, Alicia, was soon joined by their daughter, Anna. He was a craftsman who could build or fix just about anything. He loved life and enjoyed naature and rural living, travels with his famioly and friends and especially the annual trip to Winfield for the bluegrass festival where the campground camaraderie was as important as the excellent music. He appreciated live music and suppoted local music venues at every opportunity.
Great is survived by his parents, Bud and Eileen Penner; wife, Patsy, all of rural Halstead; daughter Anna and husband Steven Rusche, Seneca and daughter, Alicia Harper Fulmer, Newton; his brother, Larry and wife Kathy, Winterset, Iowa; sister, Cheryl and husband Robert McCart, Halstead; grandchildren, Jacob and Josh Fulmer, Newton and Jada, Nora, Ava and Isaac Rusche, Seneca; cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and many dear friends. He will forever remembered as a loving father, devoted husband, fun-loving grandfather and loyal friend to all.
Great has donated his body for research and his ashes will be interred at a later date at Fairview Cemeteery in Halstead Township, Halstead, Kansas.
1950 - 2013 (62 years)