Kay Penner (Nee Wiebe)
passed away peacefully on Friday August 15, 2003 at the Boundary Trails Medical
Health facility with several family members by her side.Kay Penner
1921 – 2003
Kay Penner (Nee Wiebe)
passed away peacefully on Friday August 15, 2003 at the Boundary Trails Medical
Health facility with several family members by her side.
Kay is survived by her husband John; eldest son Wayne (wife Doreen); daughter Julie (husband Dan) and son Lorne (wife Sigrid); six grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; two sisters Loretta (Ettie) and Gertrude (husband Lyle) and one brother Pete (wife Dolly).
Kay was born to Abraham & Marie Wiebe on January 11th, 1921 in the Neu Kronstall district. Together with her sisters she would memorize Bible verses so they could attend the Canadian Sunday School Mission camp. She memorized 500 verses the first year and 300 verses with references the following year. This was an event she looked forward to with great anticipation. She also enjoyed singing with her sisters in a quartet during evening services at church.
In 1938, Kay was baptized by Reverend David Schultz and joined the Plum Coulee Bergthaler Mennonite church. She later volunteered there as a Sunday School teacher.
In the winter of 1940, she met a special someone while out skating and in 1942 was married to John Penner. Together they farmed in the Bloomfield district north of Plum Coulee, living there until 1971 when they moved their house to Winkler. There Kay worked in the Salem Home as a nurse’s aid; and later, she helped out in the MCC store. She volunteered with the church ladies group, serving at the various events. She also continued to sing in the Advent choir at the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite church.
After retiring, Kay and John became snowbirds. In addition to wintering in Phoenix, they also traveled to Hawaii, Mexico, Florida, Acapulco and throughout Canada.
Four years ago, doctors discovered some cancer in both her colon and liver which became very aggressive this past May. She was admitted to Boundary Trails permanently on the 7th of August and then moved to the palliative care unit Tuesday, August 12th. With John and family by her side, Kay passed away at 1PM August 15th, 2003.
The family wishes to thank everyone who came out to visit, it meant a great deal to her.
Funeral service was held on Tuesday August 19, 2003 at 2:00 p.m. at the Winkler Bergthaler Mennonite Church with Rev. Ben Pauls and Rev. Menno Janzen officiating. Interment will follow at the Winkler Cemetery.
Special thanks to Dr. Woelk for all his assistance during Kay’s illness; the staff at Boundary Trails who took such good care of her; Menno Janzen for officiating the service; and Ben Pauls for looking after all the details.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Union Gospel Mission, Box 1073, Winnipeg, MB, R3C 2X4.
Wiebe Funeral Home in care of arrangements.