Isaac “Ike” D Penner

1941 - 2014

On Saturday, June 14, 2014, our dear husband and father Isaac Penner passed away at his home, surrounded by his family. 

Ike was born in Mexico on December 21, 1941 to Isaac and Helena Penner. In September of 1952, his family moved to Manitoba. Except for a four year period in his late teens, he lived in the Winkler area the rest of his life. In 1967 he was baptized, upon the confession of his faith, at the Winkler EMM Church. On May 8, 1965, he married Esther Penner. In their years together, they were blessed with three sons and three daughters. Later the family expanded as children married and added their spouses to the family, followed by eighteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Ike was very proud of his family and loved them all deeply.

Ike worked in various occupations over the next years. From his teen years as a farm hand, he moved to factory work. In Winkler, he worked at both Triple E and Dutch Mobile Homes on the assembly lines and as a foreman. He managed the Triangle Oasis garage for some years, moving on from there to various other jobs, finishing his working years at the Winitoba Mall, and Co-op Grocery. In 1998 he suffered a heart attack, but managed to continue working into his 64thyear when declining health dictated retirement. In his early retirement years, Ike expanded his interest in gardening, working tirelessly on his yard. He enjoyed watching local hockey games, daily coffee time with friends and most dear to him, time with family. Family time was cherished by Ike. He looked forward to the regularSundaydinners which became a favourite time for him and for the whole family. He very much enjoyed the various organized family outings and spontaneous family activities, especially sitting around a backyard fire with his family around him. Ike always went around with a cheery whistle and a playful twinkle in his eyes that drew children to him like a pied piper. A week before he died, he was in the backyard enjoying a wiener roast surrounded by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. And even then, despite his weakness and ill health, and in what sadly was his final family campfire, he still reached out to charm the little ones who were nearby. In the last years of his life, Ike suffered with unwelcome weakness and weariness due to chronic illnesses that sapped his strength. Through it all he remained fiercely and quietly independent, strong and stoic to the end. He was never heard to complain unduly and he never asked others to do for him. He was deeply loved, respected and admired by his family, and he will be sorely missed. 

Isaac Penner was predeceased by his parents, four brothers, eight sisters and his parents-in-law. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Esther (nee Zacharias), six children and their families; three sons, Randy (Anita) of Niverville, Jody (Denyse) of Winkler, Rick (Grace) of Reinfeld; three daughters, Jennifer of Morden, Renita (Jonathan) of Winnipeg, Shanna (Abe) of Winkler; eighteen grandchildren, three great grandchildren; three sisters-in-law, one brother-in-law, numerous nephews and nieces. 

Funeral service was held on Friday June 20, 2014 at 2:00 p.m.at the Winkler E.M.M. Church with interment at Westridge Memorial Gardens. 

The family wishes to extend grateful appreciation to Dr. C. Woelk and Karen Schaak of theBTHC Palliative Care Programfor their compassionate care and their concerted efforts to keep Ike comfortably at home to the end, as was his wish.Thank you to Pastor Dale and to Kiley and staff at Wiebe Funeral Home for your kind and caring help. Our hearts are overwhelmed and comforted by the practical compassion extended to us by family and friends; we thank them for care and their prayers which have upheld us during this difficult time.If friends so desire, donations may be made in Ike’s memory to CancerCare Manitoba.

Wiebe Funeral Home, Winkler

In care of arrangements

wiebefuneralhomes.com