Joanne Mikulak Penick

Joanne Penick was a woman who embraced life, loved her family and friends wholeheartedly, and sought out joy in every situation. She never met a stranger and was always willing to lend a hand and to share her opinion. She was a generous friend, an enthusiastic gardener, and had a lifelong love of learning. Well into her retirement, she took classes through the Furman’s Ollie program and served as Ollie’s President for a year. Her natural curiosity led to her explore a variety of interests and to take a diverse array of classes including drum, art, and exercise. She loved to play mahjong with her friends.

She grew up in Simpson (near Scranton), Pennsylvania, surrounded by a warm and loving family who enjoyed singing around the piano. This led to Joanne’s love of music and her love of entertaining. She is the daughter of Michael and Julia Mikulak.

Trained as a nurse, she spent her early career caring for polio patients. This helped inspire her lifelong compassion for others. She met and married the love of her life, Dr. Roland Wingate (Ron) Penick and the couple moved to Greenville, South Carolina. During the early years Ron was a partner at the Christie Group Pediatric Practice and later he became the Director of the Greenville and Pickens County Health Departments. Joanne fully embraced life as a doctor’s wife and supported him in his distinguished career. Their two children Russ and Tricia were the light of their world. Joanne supported them in every activity and her door was always open to her children’s friends. Her adventurous spirit and curiosity helped inspire each of their careers as entrepreneurs. Joanne’s love of music influenced Russ’s lifelong love of this art as he plays multiple instruments and composes. Music continues to be a center/core of Russ’s world as he continues his mother’s legacy.

After her children were settled in school, Joanne began a career in real estate. She was known for her meticulous attention to detail and the care that she took with each client to help them find the perfect home. She was especially sought after for her deep knowledge of the Paris Mountain area. After Dr. Penick’s untimely death, Joanne immersed herself in cultivating friendships with those young and old and kept in close touch with friends from her youth. She was the best friend that a person could hope for—caring, devoted, and always gracious. Her unfailing example taught others how to be a better friend.

She is survived by her son Russell Brian Penick and her daughter Patricia Louise Penick, her sister Dorothy and brother-in-law, Roy Gumpert, and her nieces Kathy Gumpert Buckley and Alicia Gumpert Shiels. Her first niece, Debbie Gumpert Foster (Steve Foster), predeceased her in 2009, She also had numerous grandnieces, grandnephews, cousins, and an uncle, Vladimir Harris.

The family wishes to thank Susan Norman and Kindred Hospice Care for their devoted care. Hospice’s guidance allowed Russ and Tricia to continue supportive care until their mom’s peaceful transition in her home.

A longtime member of St. James Episcopal Church, Joanne’s faith was a constant source of comfort to her and an inspiration to others. Her memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church with details to be announced. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the R. W. Penick, M.D. MPH Endowment Fund at the Community Foundation of Greenville.

Joanne loved animals, especially her cat Arabella who helped her transition to her heavenly home, a faithful companion to the end. She thoroughly enjoyed her life on Paris Mountain and her many friends there. She was especially delighted by the fact that her bedroom’s windows allowed her to see both the sunrise and sunset. That is how her family and friends will remember her—as someone always leaning into the light.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on July 24, 2021 at St. James Episcopal Church, 301 Piney Mountain Road, Greenville, SC 29609. A scattering ceremony will be followed by refreshments.