Penner, Henry P. (1902-1976)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1976 July 9 p. 30

Birth date: 1902 Feb 23

text of obituary:

HENRY P. PENNER

The son of Peter and Kathryne (nee Dahl) Penner, Henry P. Penner was born on February 23, 1902 in Kronstal, southern Russia. As a result of many difficult experiences at the hands of the revolutionists, he committed his life to the Lord at the age of seventeen, and was baptized and joined the Mennonite Brethren church the following year.

In 1923 he married Anna Kliewer. God blessed them with four sons and two daughters. The Penners moved to Canada in 1926, homesteading at Fairholm, Sask. These pioneer years brought many hardships, especially during the depression. In 1938 the Lord called his wife Anna and infant son home. After struggling alone for two years, he found a loving wife and mother for his five children in Tena Redekopp. They moved to Winnipeg in the fall of 1940.

In Winnipeg Mr. Penner operated a grocery store and later an implement dealership in Sanford, Man. They moved to a farm near Brandon in 1951 and remained there until retiring in 1973. While farming they attended the Justice (Man.) Mennonite Brethren Church, where he served as lay minister, Sunday school teacher and church leader for several years.

On May 30, after a brief illness, the Lord called him home. He leaves to mourn his beloved wife, Tena; three sons and two daughters, all of Manitoba: Agnes and Walter Loewen, Peter and Helen Penner, Elsie and Peter Pankratz, Ed and Dorothy Penner, and Art and Anne Penner; three brothers, John and Isaac of Winnipeg and David of B.C.; one sister, (Mrs.) Tina Schroeder of B.C.; two brothers in Russia; and many relatives and friends.