Obituary for Rex Pennington
Mr. Rex Pennington, Age 81 of Freeport, MI passed away unexpectedly on May 01, 2022, in Bellevue, MI.
Rex was born in Nashville, MI, on May 31, 1940, a son of the late Wayne And Wilma Pennington. He was raised in the Woodland area and attended local schools graduating from Woodland High School.
Shortly after completing high school, Rex began working at Hastings Aluminum Products where he spent over 7 years before starting his career at General Motors. While employed at GM Rex held several positions, including Union Steward retiring 1995after 31 years of service. Rex truly enjoyed working, and shortly after leaving GM, took a position with Consumers Energy which he held for over 10 years. He completed his working years in the farm services industry, helping local farmers with their fertilizer needs.
On July 12, 1958, Rex married Alice (Altoft) Pennington in Hastings, MI. The couple began their lives together in the Hastings area before constructing their permanent home in Freeport. After a fire destroyed the original house Alice & Rex rebuilt in the exact same place. Rex & Alice loved hosting foreign exchange students from all over the world. Through the years they have hosted students from Japan, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Brazil. On several occasions, the family traveled to visit these students in their home countries, affording them the opportunity to see firsthand their host students’ culture in their native countries.
Rex was a very hard conscious worker, and he played just as hard as he worked. He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting with his best friend Pat at his daughter’s property in Nashville. For many years Rex & Pat enjoyed their annual deer hunting trip to Northern Michigan, where they could escape into the woods for a well-deserved quiet time. Each season brought new interests for Rex, during the spring he enjoyed getting out and working in the garden, on warm summer days he could be found fishing at one of Michigan's local lakes, deer hunting in crisp fall months, and ice fishing in the winter; if it could be done outdoors, Rex enjoyed doing it. For several years, he & Alice wintered in Florida, and Rex was able to spend time charter fishing with friends in the Gulf of Mexico.
Rex is survived by his beloved wife Alice, his children Hugh (Tamera) Pennington, Rachel (Robert) Curtis, Lisa (Jim) Sobel, Chris (Anastasia) Pennington, 10 grandchildren 21 great-grandchildren, and their lifelong friend of over 60 years Zelma. He was preceded by his parents, 3 brothers, an infant daughter Sheri Marie Pennington, and his best friend Pat.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 06, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Kilpatrick United Brethren Church, 10005 East Barnum Road, Woodland, MI.
The family will receive visitors from 4-7 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the Daniels Funeral Home in Hastings, MI, and again 1 hour prior to the funeral service at Kilpatrick United Brethren Church.
There will be a time of fellowship and luncheon immediately following the funeral service at the Kilpatrick United Brethren Church. Interment will take place at Fuller Cemetery following the funeral luncheon.
Memorial contributions can be made to the family of Rex Pennington or the Charity of Donor’s choice.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Hastings, MI. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.
Rex was born in Nashville, MI, on May 31, 1940, a son of the late Wayne And Wilma Pennington. He was raised in the Woodland area and attended local schools graduating from Woodland High School.
Shortly after completing high school, Rex began working at Hastings Aluminum Products where he spent over 7 years before starting his career at General Motors. While employed at GM Rex held several positions, including Union Steward retiring 1995after 31 years of service. Rex truly enjoyed working, and shortly after leaving GM, took a position with Consumers Energy which he held for over 10 years. He completed his working years in the farm services industry, helping local farmers with their fertilizer needs.
On July 12, 1958, Rex married Alice (Altoft) Pennington in Hastings, MI. The couple began their lives together in the Hastings area before constructing their permanent home in Freeport. After a fire destroyed the original house Alice & Rex rebuilt in the exact same place. Rex & Alice loved hosting foreign exchange students from all over the world. Through the years they have hosted students from Japan, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Brazil. On several occasions, the family traveled to visit these students in their home countries, affording them the opportunity to see firsthand their host students’ culture in their native countries.
Rex was a very hard conscious worker, and he played just as hard as he worked. He was an avid outdoorsman, who enjoyed hunting with his best friend Pat at his daughter’s property in Nashville. For many years Rex & Pat enjoyed their annual deer hunting trip to Northern Michigan, where they could escape into the woods for a well-deserved quiet time. Each season brought new interests for Rex, during the spring he enjoyed getting out and working in the garden, on warm summer days he could be found fishing at one of Michigan's local lakes, deer hunting in crisp fall months, and ice fishing in the winter; if it could be done outdoors, Rex enjoyed doing it. For several years, he & Alice wintered in Florida, and Rex was able to spend time charter fishing with friends in the Gulf of Mexico.
Rex is survived by his beloved wife Alice, his children Hugh (Tamera) Pennington, Rachel (Robert) Curtis, Lisa (Jim) Sobel, Chris (Anastasia) Pennington, 10 grandchildren 21 great-grandchildren, and their lifelong friend of over 60 years Zelma. He was preceded by his parents, 3 brothers, an infant daughter Sheri Marie Pennington, and his best friend Pat.
The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 06, 2022, at 11:00 AM at Kilpatrick United Brethren Church, 10005 East Barnum Road, Woodland, MI.
The family will receive visitors from 4-7 PM on Thursday, May 5, 2022, at the Daniels Funeral Home in Hastings, MI, and again 1 hour prior to the funeral service at Kilpatrick United Brethren Church.
There will be a time of fellowship and luncheon immediately following the funeral service at the Kilpatrick United Brethren Church. Interment will take place at Fuller Cemetery following the funeral luncheon.
Memorial contributions can be made to the family of Rex Pennington or the Charity of Donor’s choice.
Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Daniels Funeral Home in Hastings, MI. For further details please visit our website at www.danielsfuneralhome.net.