Sarah Kathryn Penner
Sarah Kathryn Penner Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (jostfuneralhome.com)
April 28, 1935 - August 4, 2022
Hillsboro - Sarah Kathryn Penner, 87, passed away August 4, 2022 at Newton Medical Center. She was born April 28, 1935 in Arkansas City to Raymond and Dorothy (Wheeler) Kittrell.
Life Sketch Taken from the Funeral Bulletin
Sarah “Sally” Kathryn Kittrell was born to Raymond and Dorothy Kittrell of Arkansas City, Kansas. She was one of four children born to Dorothy and Raymond and is survived by her brother Jim Kittrell, sister Virginia LeSieur, and preceded in death by a brother, Ken Kittrell. She graduated from Arkansas City High School and later from Wesley School of Nursing.
Mom passed her love of caring for others on to her children and three of her four daughters also became nurses. She often would tell us stories of “how we used to do it” when she lived at the nursing school with the Sisters. Occasionally, she would tell us of shenanigans like the time during a particularly hot summer when she and another schoolmate got caught wearing white shoe polish on their legs instead of the required long stockings. The head nun was less than impressed. Another favorite story was when she was caring for a young man who had been paralyzed in an accident and had faced a long hospitalization. Mom and another nurse snuck him out of the hospital in his wheelchair and took him to a movie, then snuck him back in before anyone noticed.
While in nursing school she was introduced to Charles Penner, and after writing the school for permission, she and dad married on February 4, 1956. Together they had five children: Suzanne Michelle, Juliana Elizabeth, Kristen Deanne, Mark Aaron, and Kathryn Dianne. They lived in Arkansas City, a short time in Wichita, and then made their home in Hillsboro.
Mom worked in various hospitals in many roles, but whether she was a floor nurse, operating room nurse, risk manager, director of nursing or hospital administrator, one thing remained constant and that was her love of caring for others. She and dad instilled a strong work ethic in the children, and a responsibility to do every job well.
Along with a strong work ethic, mom passed along strength, courage and resilience. She suffered heartbreaking losses with the deaths of dad, Suzi, Juli, and Kris, but she remained a solid source of support for all of us. She encouraged us to keep walking forward, never give up on our dreams and was a generous supporter every new adventure of her children and grandchildren.
When asked to provide a picture for her memorial bulletin, it seemed only fitting to use not a picture of mom by herself, but a picture of her surrounded by family because they were so important to her, and she loved them so much. As her health began to decline and she could no longer be out and about, she treasured visits by family and holiday gatherings where the big old house somehow seemed crowded.
We will miss her very much, and her absence shall leave a heavy void in our hearts for many years to come. We will endeavor to honor her by living our lives in a strong, caring and generous way as she taught us.
She married Charles Penner February 4, 1956 in Arkansas City.
Survivors include: son Mark (Kelly) Penner of Peabody; daughter Kathryn McMillen of Hillsboro; brother; Jim Kittrell of Massachusetts; Virginia Lesieur of Maine; 10 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Predeceased by: husband Charles Penner in 1992; daughters Suzanne Ollenburger, Juliana Volotov, Kristen Penner; brother Ken Kittrell.
Graveside service 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 10, 2022 at Haven of Rest Cemetery, rural Hillsboro. Family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday at Jost Funeral Home in Hillsboro.
Memorials to Salem Home in care of Jost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 266, Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.
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