Penni Renee McMillan

Penni Renee McMillan

Iowa City

Penni Renee (Rogers) McMillan of Iowa City, Iowa, died peacefully at her home on Friday, February 9, 2024, following a long illness. She was 58 years old. She is survived by her husband, Dan, and three sons, Jim, Patrick, and Thomas, all of Iowa City; two brothers, Steve and Rod, both of Warren, Illinois; and many nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins, in-laws, and friends, who loved her dearly. Penni was preceded in death by infant twin sons, Francis and Luke; her parents and grandparents; and her beloved sister, Pam.

Penni was born in Freeport, Illinois, to Arlene (Mitchell) and Hugh Rogers. She was the youngest of four children and grew up on a farm in Jo Daviess County. She was a graduate of Warren High School and Clarke College. Penni was a multi-sport athlete in high school and played basketball and volleyball at the college level. She was proud of setting the inaugural triple-jump record for her high school track and field team and being co-captain of her college volleyball team. As a student, she also was active in music, arts, and community organizations.

After earning a degree in biology, Penni moved to Iowa City and was employed at the University of Iowa Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology as a laboratory technologist in the in vitro fertilization program. She loved her work and her co-workers and was overjoyed to be able to help many people realize their dream of becoming parents. After her own children were born, Penni chose to become a full-time mom. She embraced this role with unbounded enthusiasm, infusing her family with love, kindness, and empathy in every situation. Her children were her greatest joy and proudest legacy. She loved all animals, traveling, camping, fruit salads, flowers, singing, and keeping in touch with friends and family. She was an avid Hawkeyes fan and was especially passionate about Iowa women’s basketball.

As her children grew up, Penni worked as a kindergarten aide at Regina Catholic Education Center and later at Earl May Garden Center in Iowa City. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels of Johnson County, the CommUnity Food Bank in Iowa City, and for various arts and athletics programs at Southeast Junior High School and Iowa City High School.

The family is deeply grateful for family and friends who provided loving support, compassion, and understanding over the years; for the health professionals who cared for Penni and helped her make the most of periods of good health; and for the dedicated caregivers of Iowa City Hospice. Memorials in Penni’s name may be made to Prairiewoods Franciscan Spirituality Center in Hiawatha, Iowa, and CommUnity in Iowa City. A celebration of Penni’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at the Terry Trueblood Recreation Area Lodge in Iowa City, followed by a reception with light refreshments from 2 to 4 p.m. Friends and family are invited to attend either or both events. Private family burial will take place at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.