Clara (Unruh) Penner
1925 - 2020
Clara Unruh Penner, 95, died at
Bethesda Home, Goessel, KS, November 29, 2020.
Clara was born October 17, 1925, the
16th child of Cornelius and Adena (Becker) Unruh, Halstead, KS. A
child had died in infancy earlier in the family and the 17th child
born to the family died in infancy, leaving Clara the youngest of 15
living children. She grew up on the family farm near Halstead. Her
parents died in 1941 and 1942. In her younger years, Clara worked
cleaning houses until she got a job with Boeing in Wichita. She
traveled to Wichita every day with a couple of her sisters to work at
Boeing as sort of "Rosy the Riveters". At the end of World
War II, she left Boeing and worked at a dry cleaner and as a
waitress. It was waiting tables where she met her husband, Benjamin
F. Penner. They married February 1, 1948 at the First Mennonite
Church in Newton. They had one daughter, Monica.
Clara and Ben worked hard and
eventually they established their own pest control business. Clara
helped with the business with scheduling jobs and taking care of the
books. She balanced this work with raising Monica, of course, but
also tending to a big garden. Clara and Ben both came from big
families and their social lives included visits and vacations with
family members. Clara was a member of Grace Hill Mennonite Church,
Whitewater, KS. She and Ben spent many years on the Grace Hill Social
Committee serving at numerous weddings and funerals.
Ben died May 6, 2000. Clara was working
at the time as a cook in a local restaurant, going to work early in
the morning. Ben always took her to work because Clara had never
learned to drive. She decided at age 75 that she should learn to
drive and buy a car. For the next 15 years she found that she loved
to drive and loved the independence it gave her. For 2 ½ years she
worked with her grandson, Ben Lichti, in a restaurant in Newton that
Ben owned. After the restaurant closed, Clara went to work as a baker
for Prairie Harvest (now Prairy) in Newton, KS.
Clara was not formally educated, but
she was meticulous in all aspects of her life and she lived a rich,
full life.
She was preceded in death by her
parents; husband, Ben; and all her siblings and their spouses, Susie
(Sam) Smith; Abraham (Alice) Unruh; Adolph (died in infancy); David
(Lena) Unruh; Lydia (Ben) Schmidt; Malinda (Lewis) Koehn; Jacob
(Caroline) Unruh; Elizabeth (Irvin) Schmidt; Nina (Elmer) Unruh; Inez
(Clifford) Friesen; Marcus (Eva) Unruh; Pearl (Albert) Kater;
Cornelius (Alice) Unruh; Sarah (Fred) Croy; Raymond (Eunice) Unruh;
Vernon (died in infancy).
She leaves her daughter Monica Lichti
and Monica's husband Marlin, her granddaughter Suzanne Burch and her
husband Brad; her grandson, Benjamin Lichti; granddaughters Lucy and
Faith Burch; and many nieces and nephews.
Clara was a resident at Bethesda Home
only the last five days. Until then she had lived in her own home. We
thank Bethesda Home for the kind attention they gave her during her
last five days. Thank you also to Newton Home Health Care Services,
Meals on Wheels, and Good Shepherd Hospice for all the kindness shown
to my mom, Clara.
A private burial service with just the
family present will be held at the Grace Hill Mennonite Church
Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested for Meals on
Wheels and Good Shepherd Hospice, contributions may be sent to
Broadway Colonial Funeral Home, 120 E. Broadway, Newton, Ks. 67114.
At her passing a prayer was read at the
Bethesda Home, entitled, "We Remember You" by Sylvan Kamens
& Rabbi Jack Riemer, from a Hebrew book of prayer. The last lines
are: "So long as we live; You too shall live; For you are a part
of us; and we remember you."
Condolences may be left at
www.broadwaycolonialfh.com
Arrangements are by Broadway Colonial
Funeral Home, Newto
