Obituary of Deane Penny

Born in Prairie Home, Missouri on August 6, 1925, Deane was ninth of twelve children born to Nelle Louise Cochran Bornhauser and Frank Henry Bornhauser. She graduated from Boonville High School in Boonville, Missouri, in 1942. She met the love of her life John Curtis (J.C.) Penny when he was a cadet at Kemper Military School in Boonville. They were married in Cheyenne, Wyoming on May 17, 1943. She accompanied J.C., who was an Ensign in the Navy, to the West Coast until he sailed to the South Pacific during WWII. She attended Colorado Woman’s College in Denver while J.C. was overseas. The couple’s first child, Catherine Deane, was born in 1945. Margaret Ann was born in 1948, and John Curtis Penny, Jr. was born in 1951. Deane and J.C. welcomed Deane’s sisters, Suzanne and Mary Jane, after the death of their mother. The family lived in Boulder from 1957-1960 while J.C. attended the University of Colorado Law School. In 1960 the family returned to Burlington where J.C. opened his law practice. Deane had a great curiosity about everything going on in the world. She loved to cook, sew, play bridge, read, travel, and support her children and grandchildren in their activities. Her peach and raspberry rhubarb jams were famous, as well as her cinnamon rolls, brownies, and fresh salsa. When her children and grandchildren came home, she made their favorite pies, whether it was banana cream, custard, or pecan. Deane was a fabulous seamstress and made all of Cathie and Ann’s tap dance costumes and many of their school clothes. She loved stitching handmade gifts, ornaments, and quilts. Her assorted cookie plates at Christmas were works of art, and she made their home a place of celebration and love. Deane was a sixty-three year member of PEO Chapter AX in Burlington. She served as Chairman of the Colorado Chapter House Board. She served as a State Officer of PEO throughout the 1970s and was the Colorado State President of PEO in 1979. Deane was the cherished matriarch of a large extended family. She was a loving wife, caring mother, devoted sister, fun-loving aunt, and remarkable grandmother and great-grandmother. She was preceded in death by her husband John (J.C.), her sisters Virginia, Margaret, Willie Gray, Alice, Suzanne, and Mary Jane, and her brothers Bernard Owen, Sam, Jim, Buster, and Winn. Survivors include her three children - Cathie and her husband Ralph Blodgett of Norman, Oklahoma; Ann and her husband Roger Ogden of Denver, Colorado; and J. Curt and his wife Tricia Penny of Sterling, Colorado. She is also survived by six grandchildren- Ted, John, Suzy, John Curtis, Catherine and Andrew, and six great-grandchildren, who all lovingly called her Nana and Mammy. Her love of life, her unfailing energy, her many creative talents, and her determination were inspirational. Our hearts may be saddened, but Deane’s spirit soars with those she has touched.