Penner, Victor (1921-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2003 Feb 7 p. 19

Birth date: 1921 Jan 22

text of obituary:

VICTOR PENNER

Victor Penner passed away Nov. 3. He was born Jan. 22, 1921 to Johann and Anna Penner in Nieder-Chortitza, Ukraine. After leaving school, he worked on a collective farm. In 1943, the family fled to Dresden, Germany. He went to Yugoslavia in spring 1944 and to Austria at the end of the war. He did not know where his family was, except 1 brother in Austria. He was reunited with his friend Maria and her daughter Anne. They married Nov. 20, 1945. They went to Germany, where he was baptized and joined the MB church. They immigrated to Volendam, Paraguay in 1948 and to Canada in 1961. They settled in Abbotsford, B.C., bought land and had a chicken farm for 25 years. They joined East Aldergrove MB Church, moving to Clearbrook MB Church 3 years later. He and Maria served as deacons as long as health permitted. He spent his last years in Menno Hospital, Abbotsford. Predeceased by daughter Katie at 18 months in Austria, daughter Hilda in Paraguay, son Ernst in a car accident at age 20 in 1971, and 6 siblings, he is mourned by Maria; children Annie Loewen, Luise Elphick, Erwin, John, Henry, Helga VanAsseldonk and Mary Willock; 26 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters and 1 brother. The memorial service was Nov. 7 in Clearbrook MB Church, with Heinz Ratzlaff and Peter Gunther ministering.