Doug Penning

Doug Penning, 68, of Buffalo Center, passed away peacefully Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2021, at his home surrounded by family. A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Ramsey Reformed Church in rural Titonka. Visitation was held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 19 at Oakcrest Funeral Services, Winter Chapel, Buffalo Center. Burial was in Ramsey Reformed Cemetery, rural Titonka. The funeral and graveside services were live-streamed on Oakcrest Funeral Services’ Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/oakcrestfuneralservices.com.

Douglas Calvin Penning was born September 8, 1952, at the Algona Hospital, the son of Clarence and Dorothy (Sleper) Penning. His early childhood and first school years were in Britt. Doug’s family moved to the Penning family farm near Buffalo Center in 1963. He graduated from Buffalo Center High School in 1970. Doug attended Northwestern College in Orange City for two years.

For many years, Doug enjoyed slow-pitch softball and also bowled. He bowled in leagues in both Buffalo Center and Titonka for nearly 50 years. He participated in tournaments locally and at the state, regional and national levels, achieving a personal goal of 300 game in January 2014.

Doug had a strong sense of neighborhood and community and felt keeping in touch was important. He was a lifelong member of Ramsey Reformed Church, confirmed in 1969 and served as both deacon and elder in recent years. As a young adult, Doug sang in choir, cantatas and with the One Way singers performing in area churches.

Agriculture was central to Doug’s life. He did chores with his dad as a very little boy, held offices, and received awards in FFA including the Iowa Farmer Degree Award. During high school, he began working at Jensvold Implement, returning again after college for a number of years. In the early ‘90s, Doug and Al Hagensen began Thompson Ag Service, which later became DP Ag. Doug also worked 11 years at Golden Oval/Rembrandt Foods. He completed his years of off the farm employment at State Line Coop in Buffalo Center, always continuing to farm and raising cattle. The Penning family was a three-generation family farm and became a Century Farm in 2018.

On July 17, 1999, Doug and Karen (Weaver) Larson were married at the Ramsey Reformed Church in rural Titonka, making their home on an acreage southwest of Buffalo Center very near their present home.

Doug is survived by his wife, Karen, of Buffalo Center; stepchildren, Keith (Joan) Larson of New Smyrna Beach, FL, Amy (Bill) Hicok of Thornton, and Angie (Jeff) Borst of Altoona. Sisters, Barbara (Bob) Donkersloot of Washington, IA, and Carolyn (Jay) Edgar of Mason City; niece, Carina (Jeff) Degase their children, Marissa and Kensley of Woodward; nephews, Ryan (Tara Sloan) Donkersloot of Toddville and Austin Donkersloot of Washington. He is also survived by his step-grandchildren, Jennifer (Nick) Merideth and their children, Carter, Gavin, Garret, Cohen, Corbin, and Grayson of Fertile; Chelsea (Ryan) Amundson and their children, Ryker, Cayson, and Sawyer of Northwood; Zach Borst of Des Moines, Cody (Shelby) Borst and their children, Lily and Zoey of Ankeny, Logan (Taylor) Borst of Cedar Falls, and Brayden Borst of Altoona; sisters-in-law, Gloria (Chuck) Smith of Indianola and Deb (Dan) Fardal and their children, Jeremy and Steven of Forest City. Along with Karen, Doug will be missed by his furry friends Snoopy and Rascal.

Doug was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Dorothy Penning; father-in-law, Harold (Izetta) Weaver, and mother-in-law, Bessie Weaver.

Doug’s relationship with his Lord and Savior comforted him through his progressive liver disease. A special thank you to the nurses and staff at MercyOne Interventional Radiology who cared for Doug and became special friends.

Online condolences may be left at www.oakcrestfuneralservices.com