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Penner, Ernest (1950-1971)
Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1971 Apr 30 p. 31
Birth date: 1950 Nov 21
text of obituary:
ERNEST PENNER
Ernest Penner, 20, of Clearbrook, B.C. died March 21, 16 hours after being involved in an auto accident which claim ed the lives of three other persons. He was born on November 21, 1950, one of a set of twins born to Victor and Maria Penner of the Colony Fernheim, Paraguay. He spent his childhood days in Paraguay, happy to play with his brothers and sisters, especially enjoying the horses, and gladly attending Sunday school along with the rest of his family. In 1961 the Penners moved to Canada and found a home in the Fraser Valley. Ernest left school at the age of 16 to begin to work.
He had come home from Prince George, B.C., a few days before his death. On the day of the accident he and a friend, Menno Teichroeb, 18, went riding and came into collision with a car heading the wrong way on the 401 Highway near Abbotsford, B.C. Ernest was the only one to survive the accident, lingering on in a semi-conscious condition for a number of hours before also succumbing to his injuries.
Ernest had made a profession of salvation at the age of 12 and though he experienced many difficulties in his Christian life, his family are confident that they will someday meet him in glory. Before his death he appeared to give indication that he understood what was said when his father spoke to him, "Ernest, the Lord Jesus loves you; believe on him and you will be saved."
He leaves to mourn, his parents, Victor and Maria Penner, three brothers (including his twin brother Irwin), four sisters, two brothers-in-law, one sister-in-law, and many other relatives and friends. Two brothers and two sisters predeceased him.
The funeral was conducted in the Clearbrook Mennonite Brethren Church, together with that for Menno Teichroeb, on March 25, with a very large attendance from the community. Rev. Herman Lenzmann of the Clearbrook Church and Rev. Jacob Tilitzky of the Ebenezer Mennonite Church ministered to the sorrowing families and participants.