Penny E Halling
Penny E. Halling age 52 of Durand, died Friday, November 22, 2013 at the Oak View Care Center in Durand with her family by her side and holding her daughter’s hands after a courageous battle with cancer.
Penny was born on March 1, 1961 in Eau Claire. She was the daughter of Ray and Jan (Cohoon) Peterson. Penny grew up in Rock Falls and graduated from Durand High School in 1979. She married Francis “Butch” Halling on July 14, 1979 at St. Mary’s Church in Durand. After marriage, Penny and Butch made their home in Urne, where Penny worked at several care centers in the area including the Oak View Care Center in Durand for several years. Penny also worked for McMillan Electric Company in Woodville. In 1990, Penny was diagnosed with cancer and retired from work to raise her daughters.
Penny always had a positive attitude towards her illness and always had a smile on her face and loved to give hugs. She spent many hours working with people who had terminal illnesses. Penny volunteered her time at the Oak View Care Center and the Durand School District. She truly enjoyed giving out teddy bears and hugs to people at schools, care centers and where ever else she felt they were needed. Penny was a collector of crafting items that she would donate to the school. She taught sign-language classes to kids at school and also at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire. Penny was a member of the Lyster Lutheran Church, she also sang and signed with the Lyster Sisters.
Penny is survived by her husband; Butch, two daughters, Amy Halling of Durand and Stacy Halling of Eau Galle, four grandsons; Henry, Ivan, Raymond and Tyler, her mother; Jan Peterson of Eau Claire, three sisters; Sally (Ed) Sabelko of Durand, Sandy Hoffmeister of Altoona and Betty Zahid of Madison, two brothers; Bob (Carla) Peterson of Eau Claire and John (Linda) Loff-Peterson of Rock Falls, a special life-long friend, Chris Henning of Waunakee, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. She is preceded in death by her father, Ray Peterson.