On April 29, 2022, I lost my son, Magnus—a brave sailor, loyal friend, and beloved “Boy” who left an indelible mark on all who knew him. From his early days filled with curiosity and grit, to his service as a U.S. Navy submariner, Magnus lived with a quiet determination to be better and stronger. He wasn’t perfect, but he was real—full of heart, humor, and resilience. His journey was one of growth, love, and purpose. This is my tribute to him—because his story deserves to be known and remembered.
On Friday, April 29th, 2022, our nation lost a courageous defender, the United States Navy lost a great sailor….and I lost my son.
I am a believer in letting a person tell their own story but because my boy can’t do that, I wanted to share with everyone a little about my son because, so few that know me ever got to know him.
Magnus David Penkava was born on 02/20/2002 at 2002 hours, weighing 9 pounds, 1 ounce. The name Magnus means “the great” or “greatest”. I chose this name for my son because I knew he would be a strong man, both physically and mentally. I first heard the name Magnus while watching The World’s Strongest Man competitions during the 1990’s where Magnus Ver Magnuson was a 4-time champion. This, coupled with Magnus Olafsson being the King of Norway about 1,000 years ago (Magnus’s grandpa is Norwegian and very proud of his heritage) and David being the King of Israel and slayer of Goliath gave me the assurance this was the right name for my son.
Magnus’s early childhood was typical, and he loved hanging out with dad but of course dad worked a lot during those early years. I gave Magnus several nicknames as he grew but the one that stuck was “Boy”. This came from his grandma and a name she gave her son.
Magnus had a couple medical things as he grew up and overcame a speech impediment he’d had since birth in his early teens. When Magnus was 3 years old, we lived in Klamath Falls and one snowy evening Magnus said to me what sounded like, “Mo mo mo.” But understanding his speech as I did, what he really meant was “no more snow” because he wanted to ride the new 4-wheeler he had just gotten for his birthday.
His mother and I divorced in October 2006 when he was 4 years old. With both Magnus and his sister Mishawn being in another town there was one goal every weekend and that was to get a week’s worth of dad into the two day weekend. We accomplished that mission more often than not! There were a lot of miles put on my old truck as we made the drive and Magnus always wanted to sit right next to me. After several years of having my truck, I started referring to it as “the ole’ girl” because the miles were racking up, but she was taking good care of us on our travels. Magnus always said when he got older, he wanted to have that truck.
Magnus had some typical struggles in school and some not so typical. This was mostly because he wanted to do his own thing and he didn’t like being told what to do. He attended a few different schools in both the Rogue Valley and Albany, Oregon. High School was a unique challenge, and he would often come home complaining about what was being taught and how some teachers disagreed with his views on various topics going so far as to say his opinion was wrong. I explained that there was a purpose for what was being taught and tried to support his teachers even when he told me he was graded down because of what he wrote in an assignment. I read some of the papers he was talking about and again, I backed the teachers. Although the content was informative and valid, actually mimicking my own views, his grammar really wasn’t very good, so I assumed that was why he got a low grade. I hope I did the right thing back then.
In 2011 Magnus decided to join the Young Marines of Southern Oregon. This was one of the few things that he would actually not quit as he graduated from Young Marine Boot Camp on February 3rd, 2012.
During the remainder of his teenage years, Magnus spent a lot of time making various computer programs and kept hacking into things to include our Wi-Fi just because he could. He was never much for completing his chores or doing what he was told but he passed the written test for his drivers license on the 1st attempt and got 100% on the DMV drive test. Ironically, having spent many years listening to me make jokes about the popular Toyota Prius, his first car was a Prius. Magnus loved to drive, and in a way, I am grateful he had a Prius because the MPG was so good. It wasn’t long after this Magnus decided he knew how to drive in the snow, but found out otherwise when he ended up upside down in a ditch. This wasn’t the only time poor decision-making got him in trouble but as always, he paid his dues and learned from his mistake.
Magnus faced many significant challenges throughout his young life, but he always found a way to come out on the other side just a little bit stronger. And, despite some poor decisions he made, there was always one person there for him. One person that always had his back and that was his dad. Even with that, Magnus couldn’t wait to move out of our home and away from dad’s rules. I didn’t blame as I did the same thing when I was his age. Magnus wanted another car, so we went to the bank and got a loan together and it was only a few days before we found one. Just as I suspected, shortly after his 18th birthday and entirely on his own, Magnus moved out of the house and out of town. He was finally on his own. Somehow, our relationship improved greatly after he moved out and we visited often through phone calls and text messages. I greatly enjoyed the random phone calls and that he would ask me for advice, although he would seldom heed it.
It was a pretty big shock when Magnus called and said he was joining the Navy to be a Submariner. Although very proud of him and his plan, I couldn’t help but giggle as I asked, “What are you thinkin’ Boy…you’re kinda claustrophobic and you swim like a rock.” His reply was simple, “I can do it!” And do it he did. Magnus left for Basic Training at Naval Station Great Lakes in July 2020 and graduated on September 11th, 2020, leaving for Groton, Connecticut the same day to attend Basic Submarine School. While going through Submarine School he was noticed for his leadership and was made the Class Leader for his class. Magnus’s longer term goal was to be a Navy Seal because he always said he was tougher than his dad, a USMC veteran, and Seals were tougher than Marines.
In April 2021 Magnus got what he had wanted when I drove the Ole’ Girl out to Groton, CT to visit and left her with him so he would have what he had wanted for so many years. This was the first time I had seen Magnus since just before he left in July 2020, and we had a great time together. I couldn’t be more proud of the man my son had become.
While in Groton he met a young lady named Erika and they married in May 2021. After graduating, they spent a week driving back to Oregon, by way of Minot, ND to visit his sister (an Air Force veteran), and then to go to his duty Station in Bangor, WA. Magnus was assigned to the USS Nevada, also known as a “Boomer” type submarine, and went underway (out to sea) about a month after arriving. This would be his only time out to sea, but he made it back in time for Thanksgiving.
A week before Magnus got sick, he sent me the following text: “Thanks, and thanks for letting me bounce everything off you. I was a big quitter before the Navy. Even after situations similar to this where I’d given my word that I wouldn’t quit. I’ve been trying to better myself ever since joining, and that’s been a big one of those things. I don’t want to be a quitter. I’m not gonna quit until I finish.”
On April 16th, 2022, Magnus got really sick and was eventually diagnosed with severe Rhabdomyolysis. I was with Magnus while he was in the ICU at Madigan Medical Center and despite being in substantial pain he was in good spirits, and we talked a lot. Our conversations were about him getting qualified as a Submariner (getting his “fish”), motorcycles and the tattoo we were going to get together…a lion with different colored eyes, blue for me and brown for him because he was watching out for me just as a watched out for him. Magnus had a few tattoos, but he was stoked that we were getting the same one and it would be my first.
The following Friday his kidneys started to improve, and things started looking much better. On Tuesday, April 26th, he was able to go home and was looking forward to not being in the hospital and I drove him back to his base. Magnus was checked on several times every day by members of his command and his friends and was continuing to recover.
On the evening of Friday, April 29th, 2022, I opened my door to find two sailors in their dress blue uniform and before a word was said I knew what I was going to be told. The following Thursday there was a Memorial from the USS Nevada. The Command and crew o the Nevada are top shelf, and their support was above and beyond. I brought Magnus home and we were greeted in grand fashion being escorted to the funeral home by southern Oregon’s finest. On May 10th, there was a procession to the Veterans National Cemetery in Eagle Point where my son was laid to rest. I couldn’t possibly explain my gratitude for the support from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, the other Rogue Valley Police Agencies, and our southern Oregon community. As he watched from heaven, I know my boy was red-faced and a little embarrassed by all the attention he received but it was well deserved.
My world has been changed forever but I do believe that our day is set and although I’m not happy with the Lord’s decision I have 20 years of grand memories. The photos are just a few of them.