Lorys Lorraine Penrod

Preceded in death by husband Ray, mother Ruby, father Goodwin (Goody), brother Kent, sister Karen.

Survived by sons Randy, Robin (Peggy), daughter Nancy (Evan), granddaughter Kristine, great grandson Daniel, brother Keith and nieces, nephews, cousins and many, many friends.

In her 94 years, she lived a full and rewarding life, always having lived out her last wishes, to be kind to each other and forgive each other, just as Jesus commanded. Born in Heron Lake, MN she often talked about her life in a small Minnesota farming town, how much she loved life in Heron Lake and also how WWII affected her and her friends. She left to begin nurse’s training at the old Abbott Hospital, where she picked up her nickname “Johnnie” (from her last name Johnson). The nickname stuck with her the rest of her life. She met a patient. who requested that she be the one to take him by wheelchair to be discharged. At the door, he asked her out on an obviously successful date judging by the fact she and that patient, Raymond Penrod, were married four months later.She gave up nurses training to raise her new family.

In the family’s new neighborhood of Bloomington, she became known as “Johnnie” and also became the nurse to all her neighbors and especially the neighborhood children, them showing up at the front door with scrapes, cuts and needing to be looked at and perhaps bandaged while also giving a gentle and warm motherly word of concern.

Taking a part time job, more like full time, she had a newspaper motor route for the Star Tribune where she delivered newspapers twice a day for 6 days and then once on Sunday. Her route was Savage, Prior Lake and Spring Lake when they were towns and not yet suburbs. For 6 years she delivered papers making lifelong friends with a number of her customers.

When her three children had left home, she took a job at the Masonic Home in Bloomington as a nurse’s assistant, where eventually she became the longest serving employee with over half a century of service. With her compassionate and caring nature, she was more than well regarded by her fellow employees, the staff and most importantly the many residents she served. Her service was so well regarded and recognized that the Minnesota Housing and Hospitality Association, the organization whose members were the convalescent and retirement facilities across the state with over 450 members, at their 1999 state convention, named her “Caregiver of the Year”. The award was presented to her by then Governor Jesse Ventura. Governor Ventura asked her to attend his first State of the State address she with 4 others were designated and presented as “5 People Who Make A Difference in Minnesota”. And in 2018, the same people awarded her the 2018 Dedicated Service Award.

It’s been said that if you worked at the Bloomington Masonic Home, you either knew Johnnie, knew of Johnnie or you were a brand-new employee. However, her character at the Masonic Home was evident throughout her life. She was a loving and dedicated wife to her husband Ray who suffered with a life-long illness that required her care, was a loving, committed and dedicated mother to each of her three children. And a lifelong friend to many.

Her interests were wide and varied. She was: an avid gardener who especially loved roses. A bird watcher who kept a copy of “Field Guide To Birds of North America” next to her binoculars at the rear bay window of her home. A master dissectologist (master jigsaw puzzler assembler where a thousand piece puzzle never had a chance at fooling her). An entrepreneur with her own eye glass holder business (Johnnie’s Eye Finders). An exceptional embroiderer who was asked to do many embroidery pieces for local quilters. A roller skater from her early years to her late 80’s. A classic car owner (1948 Pontiac, 1949 Buick and a 1959 Chevrolet Biscayne). A sketch artist who did pencil drawings and designed her own Christmas cards (always with a personal note to the recipient). A genealogist who did a deep dive on both branches of the family, going back over 250 years. Animal lover from her early years to her friend Skipper (toy fox terrier) and her rescue cats Lacey and Dexture. A seamstress who made quilts among many other things. A candy maker. A Boundary Water explorer (more than once!). A knitter (of many things including afghans and LONG stocking caps). An avid RV traveler with her husband Ray and then with her sister Karen, after his passing. A clock repairer of old clocks. A fan of butterflies, butterfly pins, sweatshirts, cups and cards. And a mega fan of peanut butter, chocolate, and Tom Selleck (unsure of the order). Even as her health was failing, and all knew the end was close, she was the same kind, loving and concerned woman and mother who put herself second to all others.

Again- a full life, well lived.

A Celebration of her Life is scheduled at the Minnesota Masonic Home, Heritage Center, 11411 Masonic Home Drive, Dan Patch Hall on Saturday, 14 January, 1-4pm, with a program starting at 2pm.

Follow the balloons.

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Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsetfuneralservices.com for the Penrod family.