Penner, Mathilde Ensz (1879-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 9 Nov 1961 p. 3

Birth date: 1879

text of obituary:

Retired Missionary Called By Death

Newton, Kan. — Mrs. P. W. Penner, 82, General Conference missionary to India for more than 40 years died at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital here Nov. 3. In failing health for some years, she had lived at the Bethel Home for Aged the past year.

The largely attended funeral services were held Nov. 7 at the Brudertal Mennonite Church near Hillsboro. Rev. Walter Neufeld and Rev. John Thiessen officiating.

The former Mathilde Ensz of the Brudertal community was married to P. W. Penner in 1902. They went to the India mission field in 1908 and were pioneer workers of the General Conference mission. Rev. Penner ordained the first Indian pastor, M. B. Asna, in 1927. They retired from the field in 1949 and Rev. Penner died several years later.

Surviving is an adopted daughter, Nellie Asna Penner, now principal of a girls school in Ratlam, India.

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 11 Jan 1962 p. 8