Memorial Trees
K
Kail & Beck
December 18, 2024
Memorial trees planted for:
Loren Pennington
<p>Loren Earl Pennington passed away peacefully at Meadowlark Hills in Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday, November 2, with his family and his treasured cat Blacka by his side.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>Loren was born in Berrien Springs, Michigan, on October 1, 1926, to Allen Pennington and Margaret Norton Pennington. A consummate storyteller, he often shared memories of growing up in Berrien: walking the 8-span interurban railroad bridge with his grandfather; traveling across Lake Michigan to visit family in Chicago; and running the projector at the local movie theater.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>After graduating from Berrien Springs High School, Loren enrolled at Western Michigan College of Education in Kalamazoo where he met the love of his life, Geraldine (Jerri) Ruth Zuern. He graduated in 1947 and began teaching and coaching basketball at area high schools. He and Jerri married on February 17, 1951.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>A brief stint working the assembly line at Studebaker was followed by two years in the Army on Martha’s Vineyard with the Intelligence Corps. Upon discharge, Loren pursued an MA in History from Brown University and then a PhD in History at the University of Michigan. In 1960, he and Jerri moved to Emporia when Loren was offered a position at Kansas State Teachers’ College, now Emporia State University.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>Loren’s academic career was diverse: running Channel 8 at the university; portraying Alf Landon and Dwight Eisenhower; conducting oral history interviews of veterans; editing The Purchas Handbook. He was, however, first and foremost an educator, and his impact on the thousands of students who passed through his classroom cannot be measured. He was named ESU’s 1980 Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professor.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>Loren had a love for railroads, marching bands, and summers in Berrien with his extended family. In retirement, when they weren’t on one of their many trips abroad, he and Jerri were often in Kansas City attending a performance.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>Loren was preceded in death by his beloved Jerri, his younger sister Alyn Rae Pennington Sharp, and his younger brother Garey Pennington.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>He is survived by his son Robert Pennington (Amy) of Shawnee, Kansas, and their children Matthew, Sarah (Justin), and Joseph; his daughter Alyn Pennington West (Kevin) of Manhattan, Kansas, and their sons Andrew and Stephen; and his younger brother Greg Pennington (Mardi) of Burlington, Wisconsin.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>The family will host a visitation on December 15 from 2 to 4pm at Prairie Star Restaurant, 2121 Meadowlark Road in Manhattan.</p><p><br></p><p>A luncheon is planned for February 17 from 11am to 1pm at the Emporia Arts Center, 815 Commercial Street, followed by interment of ashes for both Loren and Jerri at Maplewood Memorial Lawn Cemetery in Emporia.</p><p><br></p><p></p><p>The family suggests memorial contributions to the Emporia Arts Council (emporiaksarts.org), the Harriman-Jewell Series (hjseries.org), or Friends of McCain Auditorium (mccain.k-state.edu).</p><p><br></p><p>The Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, is assisting the family with service arrangements.</p><p><br></p>October 1, 1926 - November 2, 202410/01/192611/02/2024
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