Louisiana, MO native Pennye Brown Lentes, who now resides outside of Tacoma, WA, will be back in her hometown later this month. Lentes is coming to visit her former employer, Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co., where she got her start in the direct marketing industry in the 1980s. This time, however, instead of talking catalog mailings, Lentes will be at the Stark Bro’s Garden Center Customer Appreciation Days promoting her new book, In Remission. The book is currently available for purchase at the garden center. Lentes will be available to sign books on Thursday, April 21, from 2- 4 p.m. and Saturday, April 23, from 2-4 p.m. Persons who have purchased books ahead of time, may bring them in for Lentes to autograph.
In Remission is the touching story of how Lentes and husband John did all they could, physically, emotionally and financially, to save their beloved adopted dog, Miss Piggy, from the ravages of lymphoma. According to Lentes, their goal was to give their 7-year-old, furry friend more of the happy life they believed she deserved. Lentes chronicles the struggles, successes and failures they encountered as they cared for Miss Piggy during grueling chemotherapy and then for the three years she was in remission.
Lentes said she hopes readers find the book helpful “whether dealing with an illness with a family member or a precious pet.” She shared that Miss Piggy, and their other adopted dog Kermit, provided unconditional love, even during the toughest of times. “It was only natural that we wanted to do what we could to give back to our pet during her time of need,” said Lentes. “We were able to help Miss Piggy fight for her survival through hope, natural remedies and a new diet plan.”
Those who grew up with Lentes, or have worked with her, know she has a sense of humor and hearty laugh that just makes a person feel better when they’re around her. That good-natured humor adds a special touch to In Remission as well. Readers may find themselves laughing and shedding tears at the same time as they enjoy Lentes’ journey of caring for her four-legged friend.
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P.O. Box 1800 Louisiana, MO 63353 Phone 573-754-5111 Fax 573-754-3701
Even after dealing with the emotions of saying good-bye to Miss Piggy, and a few years later to Kermit, Lentes continues to serve as an animal welfare advocate, animal foster care provider and a proponent for alternative pet medicine and natural diets (for pets and humans).
After leaving Stark Bro’s in November, 1988, Lentes worked for several other direct marketing firms across the country in South Dakota, Michigan, Florida and Washington. Her expertise is in circulation management (which involves determining who the best prospective customers are for a direct marketing company and then formulating plans to convince those prospects to buy from that company). She worked for such firms as Gurney Seed & Nursery, Michigan Bulb Co. (both offer gardening products to home consumers), The Mark Group (upscale women apparel), Darby Nutrition Products (vitamin and health products), The DeSantis Tie Collection (upscale men’s ties and apparel) and Griot’s Garage (upscale car care accessories).
Lentes is the daughter of Dottie Murray and the late Clarence “Socko” Brown.
ABOUT STARK BRO’S NURSERIES & ORCHARDS CO.
The Missouri-based nursery was founded in 1816 by James Hart Stark, a young Kentucky pioneer who traveled with his new bride and a group of settlers to the western shores of the Mississippi River, about 70 miles north of St. Louis. Stark had brought with him a bundle of apple tree scions which he planted in the area that would become Louisiana, MO.
Descendants of the original Stark family owned and operated the business until 1994, when they sold it to Foster & Gallagher, Inc., a large mail-order corporation. Less than a decade later, Foster & Gallagher filed for bankruptcy. On the now-historic morning of September 11, 2001, Stark Bro’s was sold at an auction held in Chicago, IL, to Cameron Brown and Tim Abair, the current owners.
Today, Stark Bro’s offers more than 150 varieties of fruit, nut and shade trees and other garden plants. Lane says the company mails out annually more than two million catalogs to home gardeners. “During the first two hundred years of business Stark Bro’s has shipped more than 500 million trees and plants to individual consumers throughout North America as well as to commercial orchardists.”
Stark Bro’s corporate offices are still located in Louisiana, MO, along with its retail Garden Center, warehouses, greenhouses and main test orchards. Nursery stock is also grown at a branch location in Illinois.