Luella Marie Penning

Rock Rapids, IA Luella Penning, age 85 of Rock Rapids, IA died Tuesday, September 15, 2015 at Sanford Hospital in Rock Rapids, IA. Funeral service will be 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 18, 2015 at the Christian Church (Disciples) in Rock Rapids, IA, with Reverend Carolyn Salberg officiating. Burial will follow in the Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids, IA. Visitation will be Thursday, September 17th from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., with the family present from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the Jurrens Funeral Home in Rock Rapids. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Christian Church (Disciples) in Rock Rapids, IA. Luella Marie Penning was born on March 6, 1930 in Modale, IA, the daughter of Cornelius and Carrie (Grothe) Harsma. She grew up in Rock Rapids, IA and graduated from Rock Rapids High School. As a young adult she moved to California with her parents. Luella later moved back to Rock Rapids. She married Clifton Penning at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, IA on January 15, 1954. The couple moved on the Penning family farm where they lived their entire married life. To this union three children were born: Douglas, Audrey, and Julia. Luella was an active member of the Christian Church (Disciples) and the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed playing cards and board games with her family and friends and was an avid BINGO player. Luella was always willing to help others and would often help her children with canning pears and meat. On Saturdays she would go to the A & W in Sheldon, IA with some of her grandkids. She also looked forward to going to the Frying Pan in Sioux Falls, SD with her husband Cliff. Luella would always greet her kids with, "What Do You Know?" Luella is survived by her three children: Douglas (Jolene) Penning of Beaver Creek, MN, Audrey (Rod) Kracht of Rock Rapids, IA and Julia Marra of Hull, IA; nine grandchildren: Terry (Tricia) Penning, Jessica (David) Dibbern, Cody Penning; Becky (Will) Scholze, Cherie Kracht, Nathan Kracht; Nicole (Chris) Blum, Amanda (Ryan) Hulstein and Kelsy (Jon) Van Egdom; eleven great-grandchildren; one brother, Neil (Jeannine) Harsma of Lorain, OH; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Clifton; infant brother, Raynold Harsma; brother, Bill Smithburg; sister, Evelyn Wallenburg; sister-in-law, Marge Fairley; and son-in-law, Mark Marra.