Heidi Johanna Penkert went to be with the Lord Saturday, Dec. 13, 2025, after a long battle with cancer. Jesus, her grandmother, and children Cara and Gerrit, were waiting to welcome her.
Heidi was born and raised in Long Beach, Calif. She lived in South Carolina for a few years before she returned to California with her three oldest sons. She met the love of her life, Robert Penkert, and they married on Oct 22, 1982. They had two additional children in California and then relocated to Lewiston in 1992. While raising her children, she got her GED and attended Lewis-Clark State College for her bachelor’s in social work and then Eastern Washington University for her master’s degree. She loved to help people and being a social worker did just that.
She started her social work career with Opportunities Unlimited (OUI) and also worked part-time for Child Protective Services in Washington. She worked her way up to manager for OUI. She was always helping people and loved to teach them life skills. After leaving OUI, she went to work for Idaho’s child protection department. She moved from Idaho to Washington Child Protective Services full time. Later she moved to Adult Protective Services where she worked until retirement.
After retirement, Heidi was able to dedicate even more of herself to her passion of feeding the community. Jesus taught that we should feed the hungry and help the less fortunate and she took that to heart as Jesus’ calling to her. She started a program about 15 years ago to have a free community dinner on Saturdays at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. When that site closed, she was able to move her dinner program to Grace Lutheran Church where it is still active today. Heidi always carried blankets and snacks in her car for anyone in need. No one around Heidi would ever go hungry.
Heidi was profoundly dedicated to her family. She enjoyed hosting family dinners and holidays. She loved to have her children and grandchildren in her garden and around her table.
Heidi is survived by her husband, Robert Penkert; her sons Gabe Scheib, Lee Scheib (Sara), and Nathan Penkert (Kori); and her grandchildren, whom she adored: Jasmine, Hannah, Christian, Natalie, Caleb, Conner, Gabriel, Noah, Jenna; and one great-granddaughter, Layla.
The family would like to give special thanks to Hearts and Home Hospice, Jenny and the whole crew for supporting our family through this time and Pastor Peg for her support. It made a world of difference to us all.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 3434 Sixth St., Lewiston, with food and stories to follow. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Grace Lutheran Community Dinner at the church address.
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