63719_Gordon D._Pennington
MASON CITY | Gordon D. Pennington, 86, of Mason City, died Wednesday, July 16, 2014, at home due to congestive heart failure. Gordon was cremated and there will be a celebration of his life at a later date.
Gordon was born April 16, 1928, in Rochester, Minn., the son of Milo and Luella (Smart) Pennington. He grew up in Duluth, graduated from high school in Amery, Wis., and then enlisted in the Navy. After his service he reunited with his parents in Mason City and physically helped his dad build Pennington Grocery on Highway 65, north of town. Together they ran the store, gas station and trailer court until 1969. The following years Gordon was employed as a meat inspector with the USDA and worked at both Deckers Meat Packing Plant and Iowa Beef Processing until 1975, when he was then transferred to Marshall, Mo., where he continued as an inspector until retiring in 1988. He spent the following years living on an acreage near Boonville, Mo., until returning to Mason City in 2008.
In 1947 Gordon met the love of his life, Betty Figgins, when his dad hired her stepfather to help them build the store. They were married in 1950 and to this union they were blessed with three children, Debbie, Randy and Tami. The family enjoyed many summers at their cabin in Waterville, Minn., where Gordon loved to fish and learned to golf. After retirement Gordon and Betty enjoyed occasional trips to Las Vegas and local casinos.
Gordon was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Loyal Order of the Moose, and the United Methodist Church.
Gordon is survived by his wife, daughter Debra (Jerry) Sedars, Mason City; son Randall (Mitzi) Pennington, Lakeville, Ill.; daughter Tamre Walter, Marshall, Mo.; grandchildren, Jayme, Travis and Dustin Sedars; Ryan and Christopher Pennington; Tessa Philips and Shane Walter; “adopted” granddaughter Jordan Reilly, Louisville, Colo.; 12 great-grandchildren; and sister and brother-in-law, Betty “Bing” and Warren Nielsen, Dumont.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa.
Memorial Park Cemetery and Cremation Center 11495 265th St., Mason City, IA; 641-423-237