Dorothy Lee Penko

Dorothy Lee Luoma was born on March 24, 1934 to Mara and William Luoma in Somerset, Colorado. Dorothy attended school in Somerset through the 8th grade and then transferred to Paonia High School from which she graduated in 1952. Dorothy attended business school in Denver and then worked for the City and County of Denver and for the Atomic Energy Commission in Grand Junction. Dorothy and John had grown up in the same small community of Somerset with John being 5 years older. They didn't have much of a relationship until John attended school in Denver where he met Dorothy again through his niece who happened to be Dorothy's best friend and room-mate. Dorothy and John married on December 3, 1955. Together they started a family with the arrival of John W (Renea). in February 1957, followed by Kelsey (Mark Forsyth) in April 1960; and Maralee (Trenton Richards) in February 1962. Dorothy became the consummate homemaker and mother who loved her family dearly and cared for their every need to her meticulous standards. Once Maralee was in Jr. High, Dorothy began working part-time for the JC Penney Company in the catalogue department and eventually worked fulltime in various office positions until she retired after approximately 20 years of service. In their retirement, John and Dorothy doted on their grandchildren Brandon, Justin, Jonathan (Rachel), Phoebe and Melody Penko; Jamie (Jonathan) Nahil, Katrina (Keith) Erzinger, Karen and Steven Richards,. Then eventually came the real highlights of their lives, their great-grandchildren Kylie and Brooklyn Nahil, Evelyn and Spencer Erzinger, and Emma Penko who call her ""GG"". A Memorial Service for Dorothy will be held on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at 11:00 AM at University Park United Methodist Church, 2180 S. University Blvd., Denver, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to: University Park UMC, 2180 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO 80210, noting ""In Memory of Dorothy Penko."" Please share memories and leave condolences for Dorothy's family by signing the guestbook.