Obituary of Roy Jacob Penner

Roy Jacob Penner

1946-2023

 

On Friday, November 24th, 2023, Roy Penner peacefully passed away at Valleyview Care Home with his loving wife and two sons at his side. Roy was a wonderful grandfather “Putzie”, amazing father and most of all, a loving and devout partner to his Emelyn. 

 

Born in Steinbach, MB to parents Margaret & Cornelius Penner on January 25, 1946 Roy was brought into a large family filled with twenty plus siblings and step siblings. This is where he spent his entire childhood and adolescence. Raised to work hard and to be proud of the job you did, he started pruning the family orchard and kept the homestead in great shape. Growing up he made the high school basketball & track teams and he worked a few jobs before heading to the big city of  Winnipeg to work at Weston’s Bakery. It was at this time that a friend of his sister Gladys caught his eye, and they went on their first date August 5, 1966 where he fell for his sweetheart Emelyn. It was true love to say the least and two years later Roy took a knee at the Beachcomber restaurant and asked her to marry him. They were married later that year on September 21, 1968.

 

Married and back in Steinbach the lovebirds brought three sons (Jason, Cameron, and Leighton) into the world. Roy worked hard as a bakery delivery salesman and in the grocery business to provide for the family. In May of 1980, Roy and the family ventured across the prairies to work and reside in Caronport, SK where he managed the grocery store and volunteered with the local fire department. Many friendships and memories were born from their time in this small college town.

 

In early 1983, they moved to Brandon, MB where Roy managed Economy Foods with Emelyn at his side. The two proved to work well together and enjoyed working shoulder to shoulder. With one another they forged ahead running the grocery store, managing a restaurant and eventually trying their hand at having their own restaurant The Sommer Kitchen. Together with their three sons, they brought a new flavour to town, a family restaurant that celebrated the cuisine and language of the Mennonite culture they grew up in.

 

Brandon provided many memories and friendships for the couple - friendships that lasted a lifetime. Memories filled with joy and at times, hardship. Saying goodbye was hard but it was time to move on. The west was calling.

 

In 1995 Strathmore, AB was the first stop as Roy and Em spent time working as food administrators for a local college before eventually moving into Calgary. Here they managed and ran large condo buildings. It was through these experiences the couple eventually made the choice to once again venture into starting their own business, a successful custodial company named Common Sense Cleaners. 

 

Roy was a master at his work and took much pride in it. He wanted it to be perfect and went through it with a fine tooth comb, just like the one he carried with him in his back pocket. Roy and Em loved their time in the city. Taking in the local scene, partaking in live music and festivals. Hand in hand, they danced the night away.

 

In 2020, the couple returned to Brandon to be near family. Roy’s health had been suffering and it continued to decline during these final years. Roy lived a good life and enjoyed the company of his friends and family. He was a natural entertainer and storyteller. He gave of himself and shared what he had. He tried his best to put a smile on your face or have you laughing so hard it hurt. He was a husband, a dad, and a granddad “Putzie.” He was a servant of God and his faith carried him through his years here on this earth. He loved his wife, and she loved him. His boys revered him.

 

If love was gold, then Roy Penner died a rich man as he was overwhelmingly loved by his wife Emelyn and their three sons, his three lovingy granddaughters, and their two beautiful mothers.

 

If love was gold Roy Penner knew that. He graciously spread that love to all those around him. To his family, friends, his staff and to strangers. We are all rich to be able to know him, to be held by him, to laugh with him, to hear his stories, and to be heard by him.

If love was gold Roy Penner knew that. He shared that love with his sweetheart and wife Emelyn. Their love was poetry, an endless verse, a waltz that went on through the decades, filled with movement and motion. A love shared between two lovers, hand in hand, side by side, cheek to cheek. Holding and upholding. An embrace. A knowing. Forgiving and forgetting.

If love was a song they sang it to each other. Whispered into each other’s ear. An endless refrain of memories and moments. A lifting chorus of hardship and courage, of acceptance and loyalty. 

If love is gold his three sons were the heirs to it. A warm embrace. A proud look. Direction & guidance. Thoughtfulness, laughter & foolishness. Words filled with wisdom and with wit. A father who guided a ship not by rule but by example. A love unconditional.

If love was gold Roy Penner knew that. A love that grew out of faith and servitude. A love filled with prayer and purpose. To serve. To heal. To rejoice.

Love is gold and life is short. Love your partner. Love your children. Love your neighbour. Spread love.

Roy Penner knew that.

 

Roy is predeceased by his oldest son Jason, his parents and many siblings. He is survived by his Wife of 55 years, Emelyn, his sons Cameron (Jenn) and Leighton (Jody), granddaughters Odessa, Sophie and Mya. He will be missed by so many family and friends around this big world.

 

We would also like to express our gratitude to the many medical staff from the hospitals and care facilities that helped look after Roy and touch his life in some way. You are greatly appreciated!

 

A celebration of life will be held at a later to be decided date. If you want to donate or send anything in honour of Roy, please give to a charity of your choice(Samaritans Purse) or to those less fortunate.

 

Give of your time or buy someone lunch that needs it. Don’t turn away from those who may be struggling. They may be lonely, may be depressed, or don’t have someone that loves them.

We don’t know their story. Be kind.

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