Garry Penner

On August 27, 2019, Garry Otto Penner, loving husband and father of three children and six grandchildren passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

Garry Otto Penner was born on July 20, 1947 in Herbert, SK to Marie Wiebe.   He was the oldest of Pete and Marie Penner's ten children.  He spent a lot of time with his maternal grandparents, Cornelius and Mary Wiebe and their children were like siblings to him.

He grew up in Glen Kerr, SK. and attended Lady Bank, Glen Kerr and Morse Schools.  Garry learned to work hard at an early age.   He helped local farmers by gathering eggs, milking cows, stooking grain and harvesting crops with a threshing machine.  He stacked bales of hay and learned how to plow fields with an old-fashioned tractor.   He worked at MacIsaac's general store unloading coal from railway cars among other jobs.  His income helped to support the large family.

When Garry left home he worked at Union Sand and Gravel in Swift Current.   At the age of 23, he purchased a loader and truck and started his own business in Herbert - Garry's Gravel and Excavation.

He married Beverley Anne Berg of Vidora, SK on July 17, 1971.  As newlyweds, they lived in Herbert for four years.  While operating the gravel business, Garry built a new home with lovely ash cabinets.  They lived in it for only two months before they sold the house and the gravel business. 

In 1975, they purchased the family farm near Vidora from Bev's father, Gunnar Berg.  Garry said that he chose farming because he wanted to plant a garden and spend time with his children. Garry farmed in the Consul area for 30 years.  Initially it was a mixed farm with cattle and grain.   He sold the cattle and grew wheat for many years.  Later he diversified, expanded the farm, and began to grow lentils, chickpeas, and canary seed.   In 2006 Garry sold his machinery, retired from farming and began leasing his land.  A couple of years later Garry and Bev purchased a house and moved into the village of Consul.  Garry spent many hours renovating the house and yard to make it a home, planting many trees.

Garry was well known and respected for the quality of work that he did as carpenter.  He built another new home for his family on the farm and built many homes, shops, and garages for others in the community.  He did roofing, renovations, and cabinetry.  As part of the Mexico Mission team, he helped to build houses and churches in Mexico as well.

Garry loved to drive.  He drove farm machinery, semi trucks, and tour buses.  He spent nine winters driving the bus for the African Children's Choir tour group.  He loved the Ugandan children and their music.  His travels with this charity took him and Bev around Canada and to almost every US state.

Garry was known for his jokes and sense of humour.  His favourite pastime was fishing.  He enjoyed camping, skiing, biking, travelling and meeting new people.

Garry was preceded in death by his father, Pete Penner and his grandchildren, Mariah and Arielle Penner as well as four brother-in-laws, Reynold Baer, Ron Tyberg, Lorne Kitchen and Rick Hayes. 

He is survived by his mother, Marie Penner of Herbert; his wife, Bev Penner; son, Arden (Twylla) and grandchildren, Meritt and Maelle Penner of Sioux Lookout, ON; son, Sheldon (Julie) Penner, and grandchildren, Georgia, Jack & Scarlett of Calgary, AB; and daughter, LaDawn (Jonathan) and grandaughter, Sophie Lecnik of Martensville, SK; siblings Myrna Baer, Vera (Irwin) Gerbrandt, Valerie Kitchen, Glenda (Ken) Schapansky, Melvin Penner, Pearl (Ed) Craft, Sharon Hayes, Shauna (John) Penner, Dalsey (Joey) Penner as well as numerous nieces and nephews

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 6 at 2:00 pm in the Consul Hall, Consul, SK.  Interment will take place at Robsart Cemetery.  

Those who wish to do so may make a donation in Garry's honour to:

The African Children's Choir: PO Box 3100, Langley, BC V3A 4R3

www.theafricanchildrenschoir.com

Or the St. Pauls Hospice Society: “close to home”campaign at: www.stpaulshospital.org/foundation/campaign/donate.php

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Garry Penner, please visit our floral store.