Penelope "Penny" Cammack

PENELOPE "PENNY" IRENE CAMMACK was born on December 18, 1953 to Dale and Marcia (Hannah) Cammack in Salem, Iowa. She grew up in Salem and attended school in nearby Mt. Pleasant High School. She then attended the University of Colorado, graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree. She continued her education at California State University in Fresno, graduating with a Master’s Degree in Speech Language Pathology. She moved to Pipestone following her education and enjoyed a lifelong career with ECSU/Southwest West Central Service Cooperative based out of Marshall, Minnesota. She worked with over 30 school districts across the state of Minnesota throughout her career. She received her licensure in Autism Spectrum Disorder and was one of the first autism specialists in Minnesota. Her work on state committees and task forces helped shape the way special education services are provided to students with autism today. She retired three years ago and had been enjoying her time with friends and family. She was admitted into Avera McKennan Hospital and University Health Center on Tuesday, October 14, 2019 as the lung cancer she had been battling for years had progressed. She passed away peacefully there on Saturday, October 19, 2019 at the age of 65 years, 10 months, and one day.

Penny enjoyed many hobbies and pastimes throughout her life which included: quilting, reading, playing Words with Friends, and going to craft shows. Throughout her entire life she had a great love of cats; she loved being around them and having them in her home! She loved communicating with her friends, family and old classmates and seeing what they were up to on Facebook! She loved to travel anywhere, just so long as she got to go. She also treasured her time spent seeing her nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and grand-nephews at their various activities. She had been a past member of the Jaycees, was a member of the Pipestone Historical Society, and was a current board member on the Progress Board in Pipestone. She was also a part of several organizations associated with her career in education.

Penny is lovingly remembered by her siblings, Nancy (Myron) Koets of Pipestone, and Mark (Audrey) Cammack of Danville, California; seven nieces and nephews and their children; and one sister-in-law, Audrey Cammack of Peoria, Illinois. She was preceded in death by her parents; and one brother, Larry Cammack.

Memorials will be directed by Penny’s family to: The Autism Society of Minnesota, Pipestone Historical Society, or the Lewelling Quaker Museum in Salem, Iowa.