Christian Biography of Pennie Elaine (Willett) Timberlake

Pennie Elaine (Willett) Timberlake, the daughter of Samuel Wilson Willett, Jr., and Virginia (Sloane) Willett, was born on July 10, 1949 in Superior, Nebraska. She passed away on March 16, 2016 at Roseland Park, Kansas.

The third of six children, Pennie was a master of home economics from an early age. Whether perfecting peanut butter cookies for 4-H, impressing high school friends with Baked Alaska, cutting her sisters' hair, or sewing homecoming gowns, Pennie was a standout pastry chef, seamstress, and maker of treasures from the heart.

She graduated from Superior High School in 1967, and then attended Lincoln School of Commerce where she was trained for keypunch data entry, graduating in 1968. Following college, Pennie worked for an industrial manufacturer in Hastings, NE before moving back to Superior in 1972. She worked for Superior City Utilities until 1974, when she moved to Kansas City to work for Coca-Cola as an evening accountant. During the day she cared for her beloved niece and nephew, Eden and Brody Shuck. Little was more important to the Willett clan than family, and Pennie exemplified this priority throughout her life.

It was at the Coca Cola office that Pennie met her husband, William Robert Timberlake. They were married May 27, 1978, at the Presbyterian Church in Superior. Their first daughter, Emily Anne, was born March 5, 1979. In order to stay home with their daughter, Pennie started a home daycare business that continued through the late 1990's. Second daughter Sarah Faye was born December 16, 1981, completing Pennie and Bob's family.

During her life Pennie was a member of Our Savior Lutheran Church, of Kansas City, Kansas, and Pockets and Pinafores of Overland Park, Kansas, a home daycare cooperative. She was actively involved in parents groups and activities in both private school and public school for both daughters.

She operated the Timberlake Cake Company as well as Cookies2Go, making her famous cakes, cookies and pies for all to share.

Pennie was preceded in death by her mother, Virginia Sloane Willett; father, Samuel Wilson Willett Jr.; and brothers Richard Lee and Donald Eugene Willett.

Pennie is survived by her husband, Robert, with whom she shared 38 years of marriage; daughters Emily Anne (Timberlake) Kirchhoff (married to Monte Kirchhoff), and Sarah Faye (Timberlake) Vier (and Matthew Mitchell); step-son Kevin Timberlake, and grandchildren, Riedar McKinley Vier, Dereck Dietrich Kirchhoff, Mitzi Anne Mitchell and step-grand children Kylee Shaw Timberlake and Dakota Wyatt Timberlake.

Pennie is also survived by sisters Mitzie Marlene Willett, and Cindy Sue Perez; brother James Earl Willett, and many, many extended family members who all will miss her dearly, fondly remembering her famous wedding cakes, cinnamon rolls, and infamous Reunion Cake.


Memorial Services will be held Saturday, April 9th, 2016, 2:00 pm at Grace Community Evangelical Free Church, 423 East 5th Street, Superior, NE. A luncheon will follow at the Eagles Club, 133 W 3rd Street.

Memorial contributions may be made for funeral service expenses and the family's Beuhlah Cemetery Association in care of Emily Kirchhoff, 831 E. 6th St., Superior NE 68978.

Condolences may be sent to Megrue-Price Funeral Home, 750 N. Commercial, Superior, Nebraska 68978 or in care of www.pricefuneralhomes.com.