John Penner Isaac
Obituary
John Isaac was born on October 9, 1937 to Frank and Elizabeth Isaac in Steinbach Manitoba. He passed away peacefully at his home in Steinbach on October 25, 2026, having just reached his 89th birthday.
He enjoyed his childhood and youth years at Hochstadt together with his 6 siblings. He often walked through the bush to attend the little Hochstadt school where he completed grade 9. Dad was baptized into the Church of God in Christ Mennonite in 1953 by minister Joe Isaac. He lived and loved the faith, and his conversation easily gravitated to the more important things of life.
Dad married Laura Toews, also from Kleefeld, on October 10, 1958. In 1964, while still a young adventurous couple with two children, they made a life-changing move to Roblin Manitoba, forging the path that helped develop the new congregation there. Four more children completed the family.
The small farm among the hills gave us children many hours of work, including working the fields and choring hogs. To supplement the farming income dad assembled farm equipment for a local dealership.
We children have so many fond memories of spending quality time with our parents, whether it be playing baseball, choring, reading stories aloud, going on afternoon drives with picnics beside the road, on a field approach, beside a river and, oh, the many evenings spent singing. He was a song leader for many years and has passed this love of music to the following generations.
He was passionate about education and was involved in communicating with government officials when we started our private schools, and then later with the school curriculum branch. Several years they accommodated school teachers in their home.
In 1997, after his first heart attack, he was invited to fill the administrator vacancy at the Maplewood Manor in Steinbach. This changed our parents’ lives dramatically and they enjoyed the new occupation and the Steinbach congregation.
Our mother passed away in 2006 and left Dad very lonely for 5 years. On February 20, 2011 he married Florence Penner, a neighbour down the street. This added a new dimension to his life as well as all the rest of ours. They made numerous memorable trips to Alberta, BC and Ontario to visit family. They loved each other and were married 15 years.
In the last few years dad suffered the effects of an additional heart attack, and he became very weak and tired. He loved life and didn’t want to die, but he felt his life was drawing to a close. Without any dramatic warning he departed this life shortly after 7 o’clock Sunday evening. Dad visited right till the minute his Lord called him away to that better place.
He is survived by his wife Florence, 6 children: Marilyn James, Carrot River SK; Mildred Friesen and Bernie Friesen, Rosenort MB; Marcel Isaac, Durham ON; Ray and Sheryl Isaac Bredenbury SK; Lynette and Lynwood Friesen Roblin MB; Brenda and Phil Wiebe, Alexandria ON; 20 grandchildren and 43 great-grandchildren.
Preceding him in death were his parents and his first wife. He is the last of his generation to pass on.
A viewing will be held on Sunday, November 1, 2026 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm at Crossings Funeral Care, with Sharing of Memories beginning at 6:30 pm. For those unable to attend please see below to watch through livestream.
A funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Monday, November 2, 2026 at the Steinbach Church of God in Christ Mennonite, with viewing one hour prior to the service. Interment will take place in the Heritage Cemetery in Steinbach following the service. The family would like to invite everyone to join them for a fellowship lunch at the church following the interment.
