Penny Pixler: Loving Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Friend And Fellow Worker
Submitted on Tue, 04/08/2014 - 5:42pm
By the Denver IWW
Penny Lynne-Diane Pixler was born July 9, 1947 to Ivan and Doris (Gardner) Pixler in Spencer, Iowa. She graduated from the University of Iowa with a degree in Psychology in 1969. She also attended George Washington University’s graduate school. Whether she brought her political activism to Washington, D.C. with her or honed it there in the capitol, she actively participated in the anti-Vietnam War movement. After living in Berkeley, Calif. for a time, she moved to Chicago where she continued her activist activities. As a member of the Chicago Women’s Liberation Union (CWLU), she traveled with one of the first American tourist groups allowed in to China after former President Richard Nixon’s opening of relations in 1972.
When the CWLU disbanded in 1977, Penny turned her activism for human rights to the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). She served for one year (1987) as the General-Secretary Treasurer (GST) and maintained her membership the remainder of her life, taking satisfaction in their solidarity and organizing successes. Uncompromising and steadfast in these ideals, she supported all union groups in their efforts to organize and prevail.
Penny earned a second degree in Physics and Education from Northeastern University and began teaching high school physics and mathematics in the Chicago Public School system. She actively participated in the Chicago Teachers Union and stood with them long after she retired.
Penny was an environmentalist from before she knew the word. She worked to restore the Cook County Forest Preserve prairie outside Chicago to its natural state before the white settlers came, often up to her hips in mud, setting wetland plants. She learned to distinguish frog calls in order to monitor parks in Chicago to check for re-habitation of cricket frogs in the ponds.
She hoped to become involved in similar pursuits after her move to Denver in the fall of 2013, but her metastasized breast cancer stopped responding to treatment and Penny lost her fight on March 29, 2014. Penny’s sister, Janis, recalls an example of the depth of her solidarity: “We were driving her cross-country in September 2013 to move from Chicago to Denver. It was hot and we stopped at a rest stop in Nebraska. The bottled water picture on the vending machine was Aquafina, but what was dispensed was a generic bottle from Walmart. Despite the money already spent, Penny tossed her bottle, took a sip from the drinking fountain, and said that was enough for her!”
Penny was preceded in death by her parents, and is survived by her sisters Barbara (Richard) Gielow and Janis (Tom) Lindsey, her brother Ivan (Patti) Pixler, as well as five nieces and nephews, four grand-nephews, and numerous friends and fellow workers.
Condolences or support can be sent to elevation9000[at]q.com.