Delores D (McCourtney) Penkava

Delores Darlene (McCourtney) Penkava was born on February 4, 1930 to Bruce and Bernice (Bridgmon) McCourtney.  She was born on the C. O. McCourtney acreage in the same house and the same room as her father and many of her aunts and uncles.

Delores was blessed on June 2, 1934 with a baby brother and spent much of her time with him until losing him in January of 1935.

 She graduated from Table Rock High School in 1947.  Delores helped put out the school newspaper “The Echo”, helped organize pep rallies, was a cheerleader, on the volleyball team and worked hard on decorations for the sports banquet and prom night. She was in many skits and operettas plus the Junior and Senior plays, as well as skits in Elk Creek and Pawnee City.  Later on, Delores was in plays for the Historical Society, ZCBJ Lodge and the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs.

She worked some in the McCourtney Contractors business and helped in her dad’s shoe repair shop.  She also worked at grocery stores and meat markets and ended up working at Colonial Acres Nursing Home in Humboldt for 33 years.

Delores married Edward Penkava on November 15, 1951.  To this union three children were born, Janet Carol, Anita Louise and Mark Edward.  In 1962 they bought a farm northeast of Table Rock. After being raised in town, she had lots to learn about farming.  While living in and around a small town, you kind of join lots of organizations.  Delores belonged to the Eastern Star, Rebekahs, Historical Society, Better Homemakers, Jolly Workers Club and a pinochle card club. Delores also enjoyed traveling to many foreign countries with her daughter Janet.

 She passed away Thursday, July 18, 2019 at the Pawnee County Hospital, having reached the age of 89 years.  Delores was preceded in death by her parents, brother, Charlie Bill, husband, Edward, daughter, Janet Peterson and husband Dennis and parents-in-law, Frank and Antonie Penkava.

Delores is survived by her daughter, Anita Olberding, son, Mark Penkava, grandchildren, Carie (Chris) Shallenberger, Eric Peterson, Jason (Nicole) Olberding and Dawn Olberding, great-grandchildren, Lucas and Jaeden Shallenberger, Carter James, Kellen Edward Michael, Kamden Dean and Charlotte Rae Olberding,  brothers and sisters in-law, Helen Hoemann, Elma Lee Buchholz, Dorothy Penkava, Alfred and Erma Penkava and Don Olberding.

Private family services will be held.

Memorials may go to the Shriners Hospital. 

Services are entrusted to Wherry Mortuary, Pawnee City, Nebraska.

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