Penney Renee VanNatta, 54, of Dubuque, IA, formerly of Benton, WI, passed peacefully surrounded by love after a long and incredibly hard-fought battle with her health. Though our hearts are shattered, we take comfort knowing she is finally free from pain and reunited with the love of her life, Al, whom she missed so deeply every single day.

A Memorial Service will be held at Noon, June 13, 2026, at Casey-McNett Funeral Home in Cuba City, Wisconsin. A visitation will be held before the service from 9:00-11:45 am, at the funeral home. Burial will take place at a later date at Hillside Cemetery, in Platteville, WI.

Penney was more than a wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, and friend, she was the safe place for so many. She loved fiercely, laughed loudly, and carried a strength that most people could never imagine. Even through illness, surgeries, setbacks, and exhaustion, she continued to think of others before herself.

After losing Al, the one thing that truly brought Penney back to life again was the birth of her three grandchildren. They became the center of her world. Not a single day passed without her thinking about them, talking about them, or finding a way to connect with them, whether through visits, phone calls, or video chats. She loved each of them deeply and equally, beyond measure.

But anyone who knew Penney also knew there was an especially unique and beautiful bond between her and her oldest granddaughter, Brynlee. Their connection was something truly rare, full of love, comfort, laughter, and understanding that words could never fully capture. Brynlee brought a light into Penney’s life that helped carry her through some of her darkest days.

Penney also leaves behind two children she loved beyond words, Shawna and Colton, both of whom were a constant source of pride in her life. She taught them strength, resilience, and determination that few possess in today’s world.

Shawna and Penney spoke daily, often many times a day, finishing each other’s thoughts and sentences before the other could even speak them aloud. Their bond felt heaven-sent, deeper than simply mother and daughter. They were two souls so closely connected they often seemed like one heart living in two bodies.

Penney was also unbelievably proud of her son, Colton. His quiet strength became a fierce and unwavering protective force whenever it came to his mom. Even while working far from home, one phone call was all it took for him to immediately rush home to be by her side. Whenever Colton was home, Penney’s greatest joy was simply spending time with him and his family.

Penney thoroughly enjoyed her trips to Florida, spending precious time with stepson Joel, his wife Amanda, and her grandchildren, Gaven, Jaycent, and Austin. One of her favorite traditions was sharing their yearly Budweiser together in honor of Al, reminiscing, laughing, and keeping his memory alive in the stories they shared.

If you knew Penney, you knew warmth. You knew loyalty. You knew someone who could make you feel like family within minutes. She had a way of making ordinary moments feel special, and her love for her family and friends was the center of her world.

The past months were incredibly difficult, but she faced them with courage and grace. She passed gently and peacefully, with her best friend and closest confidante of more than 40 years, Roxanne, at her side. Even in the darkest moments, the two of them still found flashes of incredible hilarity in it all and shared one final deep belly laugh over something only the two of them could possibly understand. That moment will be treasured forever.

Her absence leaves an unimaginable hole in the hearts of all who knew and loved her, but her memory, laughter, kindness, and love will remain with us always.

Per Penney’s wishes, her beloved dog, Kya, her constant companion and source of comfort after losing Al, will be laid to rest with her.

We ask for extra prayers for Penney’s mother, Rita, as well. Penney was her last surviving child, and as you can imagine, her heart is broken beyond words. Only our Father in Heaven can truly ease that kind of pain, but the love and support of family and friends will help carry her until the day she is reunited with those she loves so dearly.

Survivors include her children, Colton (Andrea Sanger) Randecker, Platteville, WI, and Shawna (Nate) Schueller, Cuba City, WI; her mother, Rita Hoffman; her grandchildren, Olin Randecker, and Brynlee & Layla Schueller; her stepchildren, Joel (Amanda) VanNatta, and Charlotte VanNatta; her mother-in-law, Jean Jenny; and her step-grandchildren, Gaven, Austin, & Jaycent.s

She was preceded in death by her husband, Al VanNatta; her father Martin Jeremiason; and her brother Kurt Jeremiason.

Memorials in Penney’s name may be sent to the funeral home at 123 N Jackson St, Cuba City, WI 53807