Helen M. Penn, 94, of Hiawatha, Ks, formerly of Sharon Springs, Ks, died January 20, 2015, at the Hiawatha Community Hospital. 

Helen was born October 12, 1920 at Norcatur, Ks one of four children born to Clarence and Mabel Kempf Foley. Helen married Vern Penn on October 22, 1939 in Gove, Ks. They had three children, Varden, Marilyn and Verlan. 

Helen and Vern owned and operated Penn Distributing for approximately 40 years. Helen was the Wallace County Commissioner for two terms. During her term as commissioner she was instrumental in obtaining the grants that funded the construction of the EMT Building in Sharon Springs. Helen was a long time member and officer in Eastern Star, a Sunday school teacher and a 4-H leader for the Smokey Valley 4-H club. Helen enjoyed square dancing, playing bridge and bowling.

Helen was preceded in death by her parents Clarence and Mabel Foley, her brother Donald Foley, sisters Evelyn Lyon and Elsie Mae Martinez, her husband Vern Penn, daughter Marilyn Wilke, son Varden Penn and daughter-in-law Emma Penn. 

She is survived by her son Verlan and daughter-in-law Dixie, son-in-law Ken Wilke along with 8 grandchildren; Vance Penn, Nissa Wennihan, Pennell Penn, Dana Winters, Heather Wilke, Valance Penn, Lance Wilke and Kayla Penn, 11 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild, and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held in Sharon Springs, Kansas on Saturday, January 24, 2015 at the United Methodist Church with family visitation will begin at 1:00pm with services beginning at 2:00pm. Paul McNall will officiate. Burial will follow at the Sharon Springs Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to the Wallace County Ambulance Assn. and may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434, or Koons Funeral Home, 211 N Ave, Goodland 67735.

A special message may be sent to www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com