I wish my first diary here were of a happier nature.
We lost a friend last night - Barb Penny, wife of former Congressman Timothy J. Penny (D-MN-01).
15 months ago she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and secondary liver cancer and told she had just 6 months to live. Being Barb, and thus just a wee bit stubborn and determined (but always gracefully so), she stretched that out into 15 months.
In those extra months she spent time with her family, celebrated her 30th wedding anniversary, saw her first grandchild born, and continued her work with the local arts center and several other community and church activities. Just ten days ago she accepted Waseca's award for Service Above Self.
She died at home last night, surrounded by family.
She will be missed by many who valued her great heart, kindness, and caring; her sense of humor, and her outspoken nature.
From the family's statement:
Barb Penny, the wife of former Minnesota congressman Tim Penny, died Monday night of pancreatic cancer. She was 51.
Penny was active in a number of community and church activities. She was chairwoman of the Waseca Healthy Community/Healthy Kid Initiatives for a decade, counseling youth about alcohol, drug and tobacco use.
Aside from volunteering, Penny worked for an insurance agency and at a retail store in the Waseca area.
Penny grew up on a family farm in northern Iowa, where she met her husband of 30 years. The couple has four adult children and one granddaughter.
Tim Penny served Minnesota's 1st District in Washington for six terms, retiring in 1994. He waged a third-party run for governor in 2002, finishing third.
Visitation will be Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca, followed by a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. John Lutheran Church.
Please keep her family in your thoughts.
Added 1/25, Statement from Tim’s former press secretary, Teresa McFarland: :
(January 24, 2006) Barb Penny, wife of former First District Congressman Tim Penny, passed away last night after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Barb, age 51, tackled her battle with cancer as she did with everything in her life, with determination, grace and a sense of humor.
Last week Barb received the Waseca Service Above Self Award for her work with youth in the Waseca area. In addition, over the past year Barb participated in many cancer fighting events. She gave the keynote speech at the Cancer Relay for Life in Waseca in August.
Memorials are preferred to the Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research or to St. John Lutheran Youth in Waseca, Minnesota.
Visitation will be Friday at McRaith Funeral Home in Waseca and the funeral will be Saturday morning at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Waseca.
Barb is survived by her husband Tim of 30 years and children Jamie, Joey, Molly, Marcus and granddaughter Ramona.