John F. Penning
December 3, 1946 – December 9, 2020
John Penning, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather, passed away suddenly on Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at his home in Lenoir, North Carolina.
John was born December 3, 1946 in Highwoods, New York, son to the late Tomas and Elizabeth Penning, brother to Mary Giuliano.
In his life he enjoyed country living, working on his timber mill, tapping trees for maple syrup, making homemade wines, working in his garage on his many projects, and racing #3 in dirt modified at the tracks. He enjoyed good music, old movies and fast cars. He went on to own Diamond Dee Company in North Carolina where he worked with iron and other metals to make custom, one-of-a-kind items.
He was very proud of his family’s history and loved to share stories about the extraordinary people such as his father, bluestone sculptor Tomas Penning, and his mother, Elizabeth Ferguson Penning, who contributed to him becoming the man he was. He was a strong and proud man. One who was both hard working and fun loving. He will forever be remembered in our hearts.
John is survived by his wife Debra; his sister Mary; his two sons Jody and Jamie; his 7 grandchildren Nicole, Natasha, Jarrett, Mackenzie, Heidi, Jacob and Jeremiah; his 3 great-granddaughters Victoria, Elizabeth and Liliana; his two stepchildren Josh and Rachel; his 6 step-grandchildren Elorah, Isaiah, Fischer, Gavin, Alexa and Connor; his nephew Dean; and 3 nieces Regina, Anna and Beth.
A memorial service will be held for him at artist cemetery on a later date.
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