Obituary for Philip "Phil" Penny

Phil was born June 3, 1955, to Forrest and Lucille (Gatewood) Penny in Oakland, Nebraska. He passed away August 17, 2018, at his home surrounded by loved ones. Phil grew up and spent most of his life on the Penny family farm south of Decatur. He was an avid outdoorsman and when he wasn’t working, he spent his time devoted to passing on his passions of mushroom hunting, fishing, hunting, or riding motorcycles to his sons and the rest of his family.

Phil was a heavy equipment operator at the Fort Calhoun rock quarry for 16 years, until he became a boilermaker in the Spring of 2004. He was an integral member of a crew that saved the house, crops and land on the family farm during the flood of 2011. His lifelong labor of love was working side-by-side with his brother, Joe. Phil is known far and wide as an ornery prankster, not funny, but a hilarious storyteller, animated, being very sneaky and he loved to scare people. Phil was a gentle soul, a giver but never a taker, saver/border line hoarder, Sasquatch hunter, spiritual man, loyal, dedicated and caring to his family, friends and his dog, Katie. Known for his goofy facial expressions and his “when in doubt mumble” motto.

He was preceded in death by his parents, nephew, Colt Penny; brother-in-law, Bob Mussack; and brother, Joe Penny.

Phil is survived by his significant other, Debbie Reynek of Decatur; sons: Heath (Amy) Penny of Arlington, NE and Tory Penny of Decatur; two grandchildren: Tayler “Shae” Penny and Hayden Penny both of Lincoln, NE; sisters: Cindy Mussack of Omaha, NE, Sandy (Greg) Brummond of Craig, NE; step-brother: Dan (Heidi) Mussack of Blair, NE step-sisters: Mary (Scott) Christ of Overland Park, KS, Jean Wiersma of Decatur; his first wife, Laura Penny of Sioux City, IA; step-mother, Erma Shawver of Lyons, NE; sister-in-law, Brenda Penny of Decatur, NE; many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins, his beloved dog, Katie and many, many dear friends.

   Information taken from the May 30,1999 Decatur Alumni Banquet Booklet

Spouse:  Laura Huffman                Married:  3-16-1972

Children:  Heath 26, Tory 20

Grandchildren:  Tayler Shae 4, Hayden Elliott 3 months

Laura and I were married in 1972.  We have two boys.

 Heath married Amy Lamprecht and they have two children, Tayler and Hayden.  They live in Lincoln where Heath is a RN & LPN and studying to be an anesthetist.  He works at Bryan Memorial.

Tory is going to graduate from Southeast Community College in Lincoln in July for welding.

Laura and I are pretty much by ourselves.  I  work at Fort Calhoun Stone.  Been there for quite a long time.