Penner – Viola Laura Penner passed away in Brooks on March 5, 2017 at the age of 84 years. Viola was born on April 21, 1932 in Olds, the oldest daughter of Fred and Lena Wombold. She received her education in Olds and moved with her family to Duchess in 1950. She married John Penner in November 1951 and in 1958 they moved to Brooks, where together they raised three children. Vi worked hard. She was a meat wrapper at the IGA for many years. Vi ran the Esso Restaurant on the highway, managed the office for John in his Insurance Company and Sport Shop. She found her calling in 1972 as a Nurse’s Aide at the Brooks Nursing Home, where she made lifelong friends and worked for 25 years. Vi was a member of the Order of the Royal Purple and served as Honored Royal Lady and Secretary for several years. She especially enjoyed spending winter months down South. Vi loved playing cards and sitting outside with her friends on warm, sunny days. She loved Blue Grass and Gospel Music and travelled to lots of festivals and concerts. Vi was an avid camper and spent many summers at Lake Newell with her kids and grandkids and always a dog by her side. She will be best remembered as a great Mom and a “forever” Mom to the kids who grew up in our family, to her co-workers and to all her younger friends. Viola was predeceased by her parents and brother Laverne Wombold in 2014. Viola is survived by her loving family, sons Bryan (Deb) of Calgary and Bruce (Debbie) of Brooks; daughter, Blenda Rushka of Brooks; 7 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; brother Earl (Joan) Wombold; sister Della Willard and sister-in-law Doreen Wombold. Funeral services were held on Friday, March 10 at 11:00 AM from Smith Memorial Chapel. Pastor Garth Everett officiated. Interment followed at Brooks Cemetery. In memory of Vi, if friends desire, memorial tributes may be made to either the Brooks and District Health Foundation for Dialysis Machine, Bag 300, Brooks, Alberta T1R 1B3 or Canadian Cancer Society #200, 325 Manning Road N.E., Calgary, Alberta T2E 9Z9.
