Walter F. Penner

Mennonite Genealogy with Michael Penner

Walter F. Penner (1909-1992)

Obituary from The Messenger, Vol.30 No.9, May 1, 1992

Walter Friesen Penner

1909-1992

Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. If it were not so I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also.

Walter Penner passed away Tuesday, April 7, 1992, at the age of 83. He entered Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach on November 3 of last year because of a stroke and remained a patient there until his death. On April 4 he suffered a second stroke and never regained consciousness. The Lord has taken him home to live in the mansion prepared especially for him. Although we will miss his ready humor and lively stories, and the obvious love and concern he had for his family, we are grateful for the many memories we have of him which will be treasured forever.

Dad was born March 23, 1909, to Peter M. and Mary Penner of Prairie Rose. As a young man in his mid-twenties, he acquired his own farm. In the fall of 1938 he married Katherine Reimer, daughter of Rev. Henry R. and Helena Reimer of Prairie Rose, and together they established a Christian home. Five daughters were born to this union, and while he sometimes lamented that he had no sons he could talk to "man to man," and playfully gave the name "Isaac" to each daughter by turn, there was never any doubt he loved them and was proud of their achievements.

Because his farm work occupied him mainly from seed to harvest time, Dad built up a lumber business with his brothers Abe and Norman, which took care of the winters. This necessitated a move to northern Manitoba--to such places as Mafeking and Loon Straits--every winter, usually taking his whole family with him. During the 30 years as a lumberman, he developed a genuine love for "bush life" and a good knowledge of tree species, and thereafter he could never pass a tree without wondering how many board feet he could saw out of it.

The loss of his brothers, Dave in 1984, Norman in 1986 and Abe in 1991, was area blow to him.

Dad did not openly talk much about his faith but his pattern of living said it all. Prayer was important to him and during his illness nothing touched him more than when visitors prayed with him. Dad received Christ as his Saviour and joined the Prairie Rose Evangelical Mennonite Church in the summer of 1938. During the ensuing years he developed a keen interest in missions. In the 1970s he became involved in supporting a farm project in Paraguay under the EMC missions and, due to the years he spent in the lumber camps, he had a real heart for the Shantyman ministry. As a senior citizen, he enjoyed working with the Golden Age program of the church on the planning committee.

Dad was also active in community life. He served as trustee of the Landmark School District in the 1950s and early '60s, and on the board of directors of the Ste. Anne Co-op for 15 years. In 1971 he became the first manager of the Landmark Credit Union.

Our father loved people and he easily made friends wherever he went. He found great joy in holiday family gatherings, picnics to Assiniboine and Whitemouth River Parks and restaurant outings. He had a naturally optimistic spirit that left no room for moping. "Life is too short to be unhappy," he would say. Although he was a hard worker he would always find the time to share a story or joke, or take his grandchildren for rides on the tractor.

Dad thoroughly enjoyed travelling, be it short trips to Kenora or Clear Lake or longer vacations to the southern States or Europe. One of Dad's amazing qualities was his ingenuity; he sincerely believed there was nothing he couldn't do, whether it was laying a carpet, building a granary, skinning a deer or cooking soup.

Although Dad had a very healthy life, about six years before his death he developed arthritis, which became increasingly more painful. It also limited his mobility, which he found difficult to accept. However, his zest for life remained, and with the use of two homemade canes, and a strong will, he managed to get around.

Although there is a deep ache in our hearts at his passing, we are thankful Dad is now in a place where there is neither sorrow nor crying nor pain. And God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes.

Walter Penner leaves to cherish his memory his beloved wife, Katherine (Landmark), and his daughters and sons-in-law: Corinne and Sid Reimer (Landmark), Elaine and Art Rempel (Steinbach), Doris (Landmark), Eleanor and Roger Gingerich (Steinbach) and Celia and Grant Plett (Winnipeg); 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; one brother, Archie, and wife Elvira (Steinbach) and two sisters, Hazel Satey (Edmonton) and Ruby and husband Archie Plett (Landmark); one brother-in-law, Ben D. Reimer, and wife Margaret (Steinbach); one sister-in-law, Emily McGinnis (Selkirk), and one aunt, Esther Schmidt (Winnipeg). He was predeceased by two sisters, Caroline (Mrs. Henry Reimer) and Tina (Mrs. Ben Reimer), and three brothers, Dave, Abe and Norman Penner.

And Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

We look forward to seeing Dad in heaven. ■

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