John W. Penner
Obituary
On Thanksgiving evening, October 9, 2017, John Warkentin Penner passed from life to eternity. My husband and our father reached the age of 95 years, just 9 days short of our 75th Anniversary. John was born on January 15, 1922, to Jacob M. and Anna Penner of Greenland, Manitoba.
Dad grew up on a farm in the days when horses were still a part of farm life. He was a gentle man whose kindness went beyond people to the animals on the farm. Today he would be known as a horse whisperer, the one who could calm the horses when others couldn’t.
Dad gave his heart to God and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, on June 8, 1941. In Dad’s later youth years, Evelyn Reimer began a babysitting job in the community. God brought them together and they were joined in marriage on October 18, 1942. Over this time Dad was a CO, in service for the government. Before their marriage he worked on farms in the Neepawa area and after the wedding he was sent to Kenora to work in the bush. He went alone at first while Mom lived with his parents. After Christmas Mom went with him until his service ended.
Mom and Dad farmed in the Landmark, Manitoba area, until spring of 1979, when they moved to Norquay, Saskatchewan. They were grandparents to the young congregation there until 2007, when they bought a condo in Steinbach, Manitoba for their later retirement years.
Our father was a lover of song and the church was important to him. As a member of the school board in the public-school system, he became aware of the need for a better educational environment. He worked hard with others in the church to start a private school in Greenland in 1972. He also enjoyed teaching Bible School and they went to Sunchild Mission in Alberta and the Koostatak Reservation several times over the years.
Those left to cherish fond memories are his wife, Evelyn, and children: Jean and Franklin Dyck, Stapleton, GA; Cheryle and Milton Warkentin, Cartwright, MB; Howard and Kathy Penner, Norquay, SK; Lorna and Norman Wohlgemuth, Alexandria, ON; Janice and Ken Goossen, Steinbach, MB; Dolores and Ronald Goossen, Roxton Falls, QC; Dorothy and Bruce Ensz, El Mirage, AZ; Kendall and Alta Penner, Grant and Trudy Penner and Shauna Reimer all of Norquay, SK. There are 37 grandchildren, 80 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great-grandchildren, 5 step-grandchildren and 3 step-great-grandchildren. Three brothers: Ed Penner of Grandview, MB, Marvin Penner and Martin Penner of Steinbach, MB. Two sisters: Elda Giesbrecht, Steinbach, MB, and Marlena Goossen, Rosenort, MB.
He was preceded in death by his parents, 4 brothers and 5 sisters.
The funeral service for John will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at Rosewood Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, Ste. Anne, MB. There will also be a service on Monday, October 16, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the North Star Mennonite Church, Norquay, Saskatchewan, with the burial to follow at the church cemetery.
