HEALY – Eleanor L. Penka, 91, died Nov. 4, 2014 at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice in Wichita.
She was born Nov. 25, 1922 in Barton County, the daughter of Joseph Francis and Mathilda (Beran) Birzer.
She married Victor E. Penka on May 22, 1946 at St Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Barton County. He died on May 11, 2002.
Eleanor attended school at St Peter and Paul Catholic Public School in Barton County. She worked as a nanny before her marriage. She and her husband moved to Lane County in 1947 and she helped her husband on the family farm. Memberships included the St. Theresa Catholic Church; Altar Society and Daughters Of Isabella; Red Hatters Club and the Midwestern Polka Club of Kansas.
She enjoyed crocheting, quilting, gardening, cooking, baking, scrapbooking, polka dancing and her coin collection. Her faith was very important to her as she made rosaries for her family and friends and prayed the rosary daily.
Survivors include four sons, Larry Penka, Healy; Eugene Penka, Dighton; William Penka, Dighton; Terry Penka, Dighton; two daughters, Vicki Menzer, Breckenridge, Colo.; Eloise Doran, St. John; three sisters, Margaret Reichuber, Hoisington; Inez Giessel, Larned; and Bertha Achatz, Ellinwood; 20 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, an infant son, three grandchildren, Nicholas Menzer, Matthew Stoner and Monett LaPoint; and 14 brothers and sisters, Mary Birzer, Anna Penka, Katherine Birzer, George Birzer, August Birzer, Clara Bahr, Albert Birzer, Elizabeth Ochnmacht, Emma Birzer, Helen Schartz, Robert Birzer, Laura Tinkel, Cecilia Denning, and James Birzer.
Vigil Service is scheduled at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. Theresa Catholic Church in Dighton. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Friday at St. Theresa Catholic Church with Celebrant Rev. Warren Stecklein. Burial will be at Dighton Memorial Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to St. Theresa Catholic Church or the Lane County Hospital, in care of Boomhower Funeral Home.
Visitation is scheduled from noon to 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Boomhower Funeral Home. Condolences may be posted at www.garnandfuneralhomes.com.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Boomhower Funeral Home
145 N Wichita
Dighton, KS, 67839
Great Bend (Kan) Tribune, Nov. 6, 2014