Darwin Dean Penning

Darwin Dean Penning, 71, of Newton, died Sunday, May 5, 2019, at MercyOne Newton Medical Center. A memorial service will begin at 1 p.m. Friday, May 10 at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends after the service with a coffee time at the funeral home. Memorials to Darwin’s family (checks payable to Brenda Penning) may be left at the funeral home.

Darwin, the son of Harm and Bernice (Bohner) Penning, was born July 5, 1947, in Hampton. He grew up in Dumont and Allison. On Dec. 12, 1971, Darwin was united in marriage with Brenda Wobschall in Hampton. They both worked at the Maytag Company in Hampton until being transferred to Newton in 1987. Darwin continued working at the Maytag Company until his retirement in 1998. He also loved to farm. Darwin was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Pony Express Club, the Moose Lodge and the NRA. He enjoyed riding horses, watching Figure 8 races, camping, fishing, dancing and going to rodeos. Darwin and Brenda also liked to travel.

Those left to honor Darwin’s memory are his wife, Brenda Penning of Newton; sons, Clint Penning (Jodi Brown) and Caleb Penning, both of Newton; grandson, Austin Penning; his siblings, Russell (Paulette) Penning of Newton, Donna (Ted) Rigby of Newton and Ruth Adelmund of Charles City; and his many nieces and nephews; great-nieces and nephews; and great-great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Darrell Penning.