Judith A. “Judy” Penka, 80, of Hays, died Friday, Dec. 15, 2023, at Hays Medical Center, Hays, following complications of bypass surgery.
She was born May 19, 1943, in Wichita to Elmer and Charlotte (Houser) Weltz. The couple had relocated there after the death of Judy’s older infant brother.
When Elmer was drafted into the Army to serve in WWII, Judy and her mother moved to Hays to live with her grandparents and great-grandmother. Judy attended kindergarten at Washington Grade School, the only school that offered kindergarten in Hays at that time. She then attended Jefferson West, which was later renamed Kennedy. She was a proud third-generation attendee of Girls Catholic High School and graduated in 1961. She attended Kansas State University and Fort Hays State University.
On April 15, 1963, she married her high school sweetheart, Jerold “Jerry” Penka. He preceded her in death on Feb. 19, 2000.
Judy thrived in her 25-year career as a banker, beginning at St. Joseph’s Credit Union in 1973. Later she was assistant vice president of Bank IV and retired in 1998 as retail manager of Bank of America in Hays. Judy was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Jerry and Judy were members since the dedication of Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.
They were blessed with a happy marriage for many years welcoming two daughters, Patricia Ann Penka Drees and Pamela Sue Penka Grizzell. She and Jerry traveled the world on countless international trips until his death in 2000. She loved assisting in anything concerning her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, babysitting and driving them wherever they needed to go.
She is survived by her children, Patricia Drees and husband, Tom, Hays, Pamela Grizzell and husband, Travis, Hays; her four grandchildren, Anne Drees and husband, Shea Koerner; Elizabeth Heimann and husband, Scott; Rebecca Grizzell and her fiancé, Justin Dickson; John Drees Krasnesky and wife, Isabelle; her two great-grandchildren, Victoria Heimann and Patrick Heimann; her sister, Katherine Carr, Little Egg Harbor, N.J.; her brother, Kenneth Weltz and wife, Betty, Overland Park; and several nieces and nephews.
Judy was preceded in death by her husband, Jerry; her grandparents, Alex and Josephine (Weilert) Weltz; Howard “Casey” and Matilda (Leiker) Houser; her parents, Elmer and Charlotte (Houser) Weltz; her brother, Lawrence “Larry” Weltz; and her brother-in-law, Paul Carr.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023, at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 18th and Vine, Hays, with celebrant, Father Damian Richards. The burial will be in Saint Joseph Cemetery, Hays.
Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, and from 9 to 9:45 a.m. Tuesday, at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
The Vigil service and Rosary will be at 7 p.m. Monday at Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays.
The family suggests memorials made payable to: Thomas More Prep-Marian High School in care of Cline’s-Keithley Mortuary of Hays, 1919 E. 22nd St., Hays, KS 67601.
Condolences can be sent via e-mail to [email protected] or left at guestbook at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com.