Penner – John Penner, husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend passed away suddenly near Duchess on December 5, 2008 at the age of 75 years. Born on April 30, 1933 at Crowfoot, AB. John received his schooling to Grade 9 in Gem, and then left school to manage the family farm. He loved farming, his horses, and he loved the community of Gem where he lived his whole life. On November 11, 1960 he married Martha Plett, also from Gem, and together they raised 3 children on their own farm that they purchased from A.S. Hyrve in 1961. With hard work, determination and perseverance over the years, he was able to add a quarter from his dad’s farm and another quarter from Lou Taylor. In the midst of hard work, he managed to find time to enjoy various sports, including baseball, hockey, gymkhanas, team roping, and 4-H. In his later years he took up less strenuous sports of curling and golfing. Athletics was not his only interest. He also drove to Calgary once every two weeks for several years for violin lessons, taking with him Willard Willms, Ken and Arno Doerksen. He loved to sing and sang in the church choir as well as the men’s choir. Above all else, his family had priority and he took great pleasure in his grandchildren and liked nothing more than having his entire family around him. He accepted Jesus as his Saviour as a youth, was baptized and joined the MB Church in Gem in 1953. Though he was never very vocal about his belief in Jesus, his integrity, patience, gentleness and love of people spoke volumes about him and his faith. He will be sorely missed by his wife, Martha, his daughter Bev Leonard and her husband Ron of Burnaby, BC, their daughters Stacey, Nicole and Shannon; son Kevin and his wife Charmaine of Lethbridge, their sons John Cole and Lucas; daughter Sharlene and her husband Dave McLaughlin of Rocky Mountain House, their children Taylor, Braydon and Jordyn; 4 sisters; brother and their families, as well as 9 brothers and sisters-in-law and their families. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 11 at 3:00 PM from the Gem MB Church. Pastor Barry Breker officiating. Interment followed at Gem Cemetery. A light lunch served over a time of remembering and open-mike sharing will follow at the community hall. In memory of John, if friends desire, memorial tributes donations may be made to the support of Laurence and Leona Hiebert, missionaries in Japan, c/o Gem MB Church, General Delivery, Gem, Alberta T0J 1M0. Arrangements in care of SMITH FUNERAL HOME. Telephone 403-362-4636 or Toll Free (866) 362-4652..
