Obituary of Diedrich Penner
I was born on a farm in the Niverville/New Bothwell area on July 3, 1928. My parents were Johan and Helena Penner. I am the youngest of a family of 12 siblings, four girls and eight boys. Mom and Dad and the rest of the family immigrated to Canada in 1926 – all 10, except one son who died in infancy. I am the only one of the family born in Canada. Life at that time was hard for newcomers to this country, but being the “baby” in the family had its privileges and difficulties for me. My sisters, all of them older than the boys, found work as domestics in Winnipeg and helped support the family in its struggles with the demands of the day.
Even with times being as they were, it never affected me in any negative way. I had a happy childhood and really didn’t realize that there were hard times. My schooling consisted of a daily walk to school and back, a distance of two miles each way. This was never a difficulty, just a fact of life. After completing my elementary schooling in the country, the emphasis changed to high school, because Dad tried desperately to make school teachers out of my brother Henry and me. It didn’t work out; Henry went to work for the Winnipeg Transit System, and I became an electrician after many other attempts to find my niche in society.
After spending some time in Ontario and British Columbia, I came back home to Steinbach, and here I met the love of my life, who agreed to marry me and spend the rest of our lives together. Through all the struggles that we encountered, we have always been able to persevere. We were blessed with two children, Randy and Pam. I was turned off with Christianity because of negative experiences, but through Randy’s childhood influences, I was brought to see the errors of my ways and I asked Jesus to cleanse me and wash away all sins and shame. Upon the confession of my faith in Jesus Christ, I was
baptized and accepted into the membership of the Steinbach Mennonite Church on June 2, 1957.
I was predeceased by my parents Johan and Helena (Peters) Penner, sisters – Mary (John Koop), Aganetha (Art Rempel), Anne, Helen (Jacob Janzen), and brothers – John (Mary Falk), Peter (died in infancy), Peter (Mary Regher), Jacob (Margaret Suderman), Abe, Cornie (Joe) (Marie Klassen), and Henry (Barbara Potter), leaving many nieces and nephews with their families – all of whom I cherish in my heart – to rejoice in my going to live with my Jesus.
I especially love and cherish my grandchildren and great-grandchildren –
Kimberley (Penner) and Brad Funk with Dakota and Teighan.
Christopher and Melanie (Barkman) Penner with Aiden, Evrett and Leora.
Lisa Elias.
Jonathon and Rachel (Klassen) Elias with Alexzander (Abigail), Keller (fiancée Aaliyah) and Leala.
Tara (Elias) and John Elias Schellenberg with Eleanor, Alice and John Jr. (John/John).
My dear wife, Wilma, and my pride and joy Randy and Carol and Pam and Bob – you will never know how I have loved you, even when you didn’t feel it. I leave you in God’s care forever and forever!
I am also survived by my in-laws – Alvin and Margaret Penner, Wendy (Gordon) Penner, Ruth (Penner) Klassen, Roy and Emelyn Penner, Shirley (Leo) Penner, Dorothy and (Dennis) Reimer and Gladys and (Kevin) Rooker and their families.
Thank you to the Church of God for your love and nurture through our times of
fellowship and worship.
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Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff
they comfort me. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
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Written by Dick Penner – May 16, 2012 and updated from time to time.
Funeral service will take place on Monday, October 31, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB with a viewing prior to the service. A livestream link will be provided. Interment to follow at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB.
Donations in honor of Dick may be made to Child Evangelism Fellowship Canada.
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of rich
Dick
Penner 1928 2022..
Death notice for the town of: Steinbach, Province: Manitoba
Sincere condolences to Wilma and family. Uncle Dick was very special to me.