Pennie Rethamel

Pennie Rethamel age 69 of Fredericksburg, Iowa died Sunday evening, August 18, 2013, at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 23, 2013, at Our Lady Of Mt. Carmel Catholic Church, Lawler, with Rev. Nick March celebrating the Mass. The pall will be placed by Pennie's husband and children. Lector for the service will be Terry Rethamel. Presenting the offertory gifts will be Kayla Leiran, Kayley Rethamel and Ashley Schildroth. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg with Aaron Rethamel, Clinton Rethamel, Jeremy Rethamel, Brodie Rethamel, Alek Rethamel and Garrett Rethamel. Honorary pallbearers will be Kayla Leiran, Ashley Schildroth, Kristin Rethamel, Kayley Rethamel and Mackenzie Rethamel. Friends may greet the family 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 22, 2013, at the Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home in Fredericksburg where there will be a 4:00 p.m. Rosary and a 6:00 p.m. Scripture Service. Visitation continues an hour prior to Mass at the church on Friday. Pennie Joe (Ackley) Rethamel was born October 12, 1943, in Vancouver, Washington the daughter of Arthur Eugene and Mona Mae (Evans) Ackley. At a young age the family moved to New Hampton, Iowa. Pennie attended country school east of New Hampton, graduating from New Hampton High School in 1961. While in school Pennie played the flute in the high school band. On September 2, 1961, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in New Hampton, Pennie was united in marriage to Eldon Francis Rethamel. To this union five children were born. The couple lived on South Locust Street before building a house on South Alta Street in New Hampton. They moved to, and became residents of Fredericksburg in 1982. Pennie worked at Garnant Realty, Ben Franklin and Culligan. She also had been a New Hamtpon school bus driver for many years. Pennie and Eldon purchased The Mint Restaurant, downtown Fredericksburg in 1981. After selling the restaurant in 1988, she worked at Beatrice Cheese until her retirement. Pennie loved animals, especially cats. She also had a passion for decorating picture frames, shepherd hooks and other items with flowers. She had a special gift for decorating and crafts. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Pennie is survived by her husband Eldon of Fredericksburg; sons, Jim (Wanda Adams) Rethamel of Evansdale, Iowa, Bob (Jeri) of Fredericksburg, Iowa, Tim (Cheryl) of New Hampton, Iowa and Terry (Karie) Rethamel of Hampton, VA; daughter Lynnette (Mike) Rauch of Troy Mills, Iowa; 12 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; mother, Mona Ackley of New Hampton, Iowa; sister, Karen (Jordan) Pratt of New Hampton; brother, Harold (Pat) Ackley of Fredericksburg; sisters in law, Lois Girken of Charles City, Iowa, Alice Rethamel, New Hampton, Iowa, Marge Mayo of Nashville, North Carolina. She is preceded in death by her father, Arthur Ackley and grandson, Mitchell Joseph Rethamel.