Penner, Alma Friesen (1904-1987)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 30 Apr 1987 p. 11

Birth date: 1904

text of obituary:

ALMA FRIESEN PENNER

Alma Friesen Penner was born July 12, 1904, in Gretna, Man., to Jacob J. and Margaret Lemkey Friesen. In 1905 she moved with her parents to Hague, Sask., where her father operated a general store.

She grew up in a musical family who participated in many Mennonite church songfests and musicals. She learned to play the piano and developed a love for the classics in secular and religious music.

Upon her graduation from Rosthern Academy, she attended the Saskatchewan Normal School for Teacher Preparation. Here she met and married Cornelius D. Penner, principal of the academy.

During the 1930s they moved back to her husband's home area at Beatrice, Neb. Later they lived in Lincoln, Neb., Chicago. Ill., Gunnison, Colo., and Berea, Ohio. They also spent a year in West Germany, where her husband taught at the University of Bremershaven.

Her husband died in 1963. After his death, she was dorm mother at the University of New Hampshire for a year. She then moved to San Pedro, Calif., where a daughter and family resided. Later she moved to Covina, where she lived for the last 13 years of her life.

Her life was filled with love of people and good music. She was a member of the Friendship Sunday school class at First Baptist Church, Covina, where her faithful service as a pianist and accompanist will be remembered.

In her last year, she became a shut-in in her son's home in West Covina. She died on March 15, 1987.

Her survivors include a son, Kenneth of West Covina; a daughter, Marguerite Penner Couch of Connecticut; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Wilfred James, in infancy.

Funeral services were held at First Baptist Church Chapel, Covina, with Raymond Hunter officiating. Burial was in Woodvale Cemetery, Berea, Ohio.

Transcribed by Ralph Shetler, Oregon