Lelia Mae “Lee” Pennick, 100, of Hutchinson, died Tuesday, August 16, 2022, at Thorne Care Center. She was born November 26, 1921, in Argonia, to John Constantine and Eva Belle (Dine) Wilcox.
Lee spent her early school years in Argonia and moved to Mulvane when she was eight. She graduated from Mulvane High School in 1940, and Wesley Nursing School in Wichita in 1943, as a Registered Nurse (RN).
Lee married her high school sweetheart, Max G. Pennick, on August 15, 1943, at Mulvane Methodist Church. They lived in Idaho and in Washington, DC, during World War II. In 1946, Lee and Max moved to Winfield, and in 1960, they moved to Hutchinson. Max died November 3, 1995.
Lee was a nurse for a pediatrician in Wichita for a year. During World War II, she worked in Coeur d’Alene, ID, and Washington, DC. After the war, Lee was a nurse at Newton Memorial Hospital in Winfield and was a pediatric nurse supervisor at Grace Hospital in Hutchinson. She was a nurse supervisor in the emergency department at the Hutchinson Clinic. Lee retired in 1983, but continued to work part-time and later volunteered at the clinic.
She was a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Duos Sunday school class, and belonged to UMW. Lee was a member of PEO Chapter EK and numerous nursing organizations. She enjoyed playing women’s and couple’s bridge. Lee attended hundreds of city band concerts and symphonies, as Max was a percussionist in both. She enjoyed the Kansas State Fair, NJCAA Basketball Tournament, Kansas City Royals baseball, embroidery, and sewing. Most of all, Lee enjoyed her family and friends.
She is survived by: her daughter, Mary Rexroad of Tulsa, OK; her son, Richard Pennick (Debbie) of Aurora, CO; grandchildren, Jason Rexroad (Jennifer), Jaime (Rexroad) Nutt, Joel Pennick (Ashley), Mark Pennick (Melissa), and Rachel (Pennick) Hoffman (Nick); and 13 great-grandchildren, Max, Ted, Eliza, Chloe, Madeline, Lucy, Jason, Blake, Logan, Finley, Wyatt, Maizey, and Oliver.
Lee was preceded in death by her parents and four siblings, Lucille, Burke, Bula, and Paul.
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, August 27, 2022, at Trinity United Methodist Church, 1602 N. Main, with the Reverend Dr. Kim Biery officiating. Burial will follow in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with the family present to receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Friday at Elliott Mortuary.
Memorials may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, Wesley Towers Foundation, or Serene Palliative Care and Hospice, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1210 N. Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.
The family wishes to thank all the staff of Hester and Thorne Care Centers and Serene Palliative Care and Hospice for their compassionate care of Lee.