Penner, Helen Wiens (1915-1965)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Aug 26 p. 5

Birth date: 1915 Jun 28

text of obituary: .

, , ,

• Funeral services were held Saturady [sic] at the Mennonite Brethren church in Fresno, Calif. for Mrs. Helen Wiens Penner, 50, who died there Aug.18 after a 10-month illness. She is survived by her husband, Arthur Penner, two daughters and one son, all of the home; a married daughter of Fresno; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Wiens of Inman; and three sisters.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Sep 2 p 5

text of obituary: .

, , , . • A memorial service for Mrs. Arthur Penner, who died recently at Fresno, Calif., was held Sunday evening at the Bethel Church near Inman. A tape recording of the funeral service held at the Fresno M. B. Church was played. Mrs. Penner was the former Helen Wiens, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Wiens of Inman. Rev. P. A. Wedel was in charge of the service at Inman.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1965 Oct 14 p. 8

text of obituary:

MRS. ARTHUR E. PENNER

Mrs. Arthur E. (Helen) Penner was born June 28, 1915, near Inman, Kan. Here on a farm she spent her youth under the prayerful care of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Wiens. When Helen was 18 her mother entered the Lord's presence, leaving her responsibilities to others such as Helen.

On Jan. 1, 1939, she was united in marriage to Arthur E. Penner and to this union four children were born. Six months of their newly wedded life were spent in Hillsboro, Kan., where Mr. Penner labored as a carpenter. In August 1939 the couple moved to Fresno, Calif. Mr. Penner's work as a construction foreman took him out of the city for brief periods, but by and large Fresno has been home for the family. On Jan. 5, 1964, their home was opened to relatives and friends for the joyful observance of their 25th wedding anniversary.

Helen trusted the Lord Jesus as her Saviour in her youth and became a member of the First Mennonite Church. In 1942 she transferred her membership to the Mennonite Brethren Church, the church of which Mr. Penner was a member.

She is remembered by family and friends for her generosity and hospitality. Naturally industrious, she continually found opportunities to render service to others. Wherever she lived she quickly made friends.

She was a regular listener to Gospel radio programs. In the church she served in various ways — as pianist, organist, as president of the ladies missionary society, and as superintendent of the Nursery Department of the Sunday School. One of the most recent of the services rendered in the church was the planning and finishing of the nursery in the new educational wing.

A genuine urgency was displayed in her Christian service. Among the many passages underlined in her Bible was Matthew 9:4.

Humanly speaking death, which came after a long period of illness, came all too soon in life. She entered the Saviour's presence peacefully Aug. 18, the same date her mother received her call 32 years earlier.

She leaves to await the Lord's call her companion in marriage; her father and stepmother, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Wiens of Inman; four children, (Dotty) Mrs. Alvin Warkentin of Fresno, Nancy, Bonnie and Jerry of the home; three sisters, Mrs. Justina Neufeld, who with her husband, Rev. George Neufeld has served as missionary in the Congo of Africa, and now residing in Elkhart, Ind., where Rev. Neufeld serves as assistant treasurer of the Congo Inland Mission, Mrs. Dave (Elizabeth) Enns and Mrs. Abe (Linda) Enns, both of Inman; two grandchildren, as well as a host of relatives and friends. — The Family.