Penelope Dona "Penny" Moehn

Penelope Moehn ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Iles Westover Chapel on Mar. 17, 2026.It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Penelope "Penny" Dona Moehn on March 7, 2026, at the age of 81. Penny was born on June 18, 1944 to Donald and June (White) Graves, in Evanston, Illinois. She and her mother lived with her grandparents, until her father, who was serving as a medical technician in WWII, returned from the Philippines two years later. Following his return, the family moved to Winterset, Iowa, where her father Don joined the business started by his father Charles at Graves & Son, a women's dry goods store.Penny attended school in Winterset, where she was an excellent student and played in the band, as well as participated on the school's golf and basketball teams. She married Michael Tiernan in 1961 and they had two children: Candace and Todd. After they divorced, Penny took a position working as a receptionist at East Des Moines National Bank, where she made many lifelong friends. She married Paul Moehn in 1971 and they celebrated forty-nine years of marriage, before he passed in 2021. Penny retired from the banking business soon after her grandson, Michael, was born. At the time, she held the position of Vice President at the bank.After her retirement from banking, Penny became President of Joy B. Fitzgerald, Inc., upon the death of her dear friend, Joy. She remained in this position up until her recent death.Penny was a wonderful mother and human being. She embodied the best qualities: unconditional love, strength of spirit, perseverance, and unending generosity toward her family and friends. She had a zest for life and new experiences. Sitting was not a word in her vocabulary unless it involved a good book or time spent with dear friends. She was a loyal and generous friend. People were drawn to Penny as she had an outgoing and fun-loving personality. She loved deeply and she loved to laugh. Her laugh would literally light up a room. Penny had a strong fashion sense, a trait she inherited from her mother. She was always impeccably dressed and her favorite pastime was shopping or as she would always say: "I am June Graves' daughter after all." She also loved traveling, especially cruising, and it was commonplace for she and her daughter to take an annual trip together. Her greatest joy was her children, Candace and Todd, and her beloved grandson, Michael, whom she thought the sun rose and set on.Penny was predeceased by her parents, Don and June Graves, her beloved brother, Kirk Graves, and her husband, Paul.The passing of life is so difficult for those that are left behind and yet Penny left us with so many cherished memories. She was a lovely person, inside and out, and will be dearly missed.She is survived by her daughter, Candace (John) Mailand, her son, Michael Todd Tiernan, her grandson, Michael Mailand, her niece Jamie (Brian) Thomas and her beloved pet, Vivi. If a person's life can be measured by all the close friends that one has, then Penny's life was very rich indeed. She leaves behind many dear and cherished friends: Anne Harris, Shirley Miksell, Marie Vranich, Tony and Fran Carenza, Robert and Ginny Hood, Christy Reay, Rod and Linda Ferguson, Steve Russell, Torben and Karen Svendsen, Rod and Terri Brown, Jim and Gina Ross, Patricia Realph, Sue Collins, Amber Millard, and the ladies at JBF Inc., Maria Prather, Krista Laird and Marie Blood.The family would like to extend sincere appreciation to Christy Reay and Amber Millard. The two of you brought such happiness and joy to our mother. We truly cannot thank you enough. Your kindness and compassion made her world, during this past year, a beautiful place to be.A Memorial Gathering will be held from 4-7p.m. on Friday, April 3rd, at the Iles Jordan Creek Chapel, 7150 Ashworth Rd., West Des Moines, Iowa.Memorials may be directed to the Animal Rescue League, 5452 N.E. 22nd St., Des Moines, IA 50313.To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.