William "Lanny" Lawrence Penwell's Obituary
Lanny Penwell of Culpeper, Virginia, went to his heavenly home on May 12, 2024, after a short battle with cancer.
He was born in Dexter, Missouri on June 19, 1951, to William and Colleen Penwell. The family, including his older sister, Janice, moved to Rock Island, Illinois when Lanny was a baby. He grew up there participating in Boy Scouts, church youth group, football and a teen choir. He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1969.
He met his bride, Debbie, while attending the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana where they both graduated. Lanny and Debbie were married July 26, 1975 – a date Lanny included in a timeline of his life and identified as “the smartest thing I ever did.”
Lanny then began working full-time with Youth for Christ after volunteering throughout his college years. Leading Campus Life Clubs in high schools was rewarding for Lanny, even more so working with special friends and colleagues to share the Gospel with teenagers.
A desire for more study and understanding of the Bible led Lanny to enroll in seminary. In 1980, he graduated from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (now Trinity International University) and began his pastoral ministry in Englewood, Florida. Feeling a call to reach an underserved population, Lanny and Debbie joined a team to plant a church in inner city Denver in 1988.
He would go on to pastor churches in Platteville, Wisconsin (1990-1998), Jupiter, Florida (1998-2008), and Hutchinson, Minnesota (2009-2017). Lanny appreciated serving each congregation and treasured the friendships gained in each church body. He touched many lives through biblical counsel, the gospel presentation, and a shepherd’s caring, listening ear during his 40-year ministry. His goal was to fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus commands.
Retirement led him to Virginia, where he and Debbie decided to move to be closer to their grandchildren. Papa enjoyed the blessings of his granddaughter, Claire, and his namesake grandsons, William and Lawrence.
Lanny was a man of many gifts. He was skilled with his hands, as evidenced by his love of woodworking. One of his first projects in retirement was to create a workshop in his basement where he built a custom piece of furniture for his daughter and other small projects.
He was a gifted speaker and orator. Lanny’s ministry was marked by his ability to execute engaging and challenging sermons weekly. Parents often told him that their children could follow and understand his sermons. He never felt a sermon was complete without proper application of the biblical text to his flock’s daily lives.
Lanny was also gifted with a robust sense of humor. His quick wit and playful demeanor endeared him to many and provided a household of laughter as he raised his family. He was a family man in the quintessential meaning of the phrase. He led his household with humility and integrity. He cherished being a husband, father, and “Papa.”
Lanny always enjoyed reading and in the new Millenium also learned to enjoy YouTube and podcasts. He relished the simple pleasures in life, like enjoying a good cup of coffee on a balmy day while watching birds at the feeders he installed.
He is preceded in death by his parents, William Penwell and Colleen Gray, and his sister, Janice Edwards.
He is survived by his loving wife, Deborah Penwell, his three children, Cameron (Yuko) Penwell, Carlyn Penwell, and Connor Penwell, and his three grandchildren, Claire, William, and Lawrence Penwell.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 1 at 11:00 A.M. at Providence Bible Church. A luncheon reception will follow the service.
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