We Remember
PENNER, Henry Arnold
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On August 22, just three days prior to his 73rd birthday, Henry Arnold Penner slipped away peacefully to be with the Lord. He is survived by his loving wife Elsie of 50 years, daughter Cynthia and husband Jay Brooks, son Michael and wife Carrie Elrick, and his much loved granddaughters, Vivian and Lily Elrick Penner. Also mourning his loss are his siblings Catherine (Rita) Whiteley, Anita and husband Lyle Wahl, Alice and husband Michael Gro, Elaine and husband Edward Klassen, Louis and wife Ruth Ann Penner, Kim and husband Abe Dueck, and Dennis and wife Wendy Lee Penner, as well as many nieces and nephews. He will also be sorely missed by his brothers and sisters in law: Margaret and Patrick Burns, Peter and Sue Kehler, Katie Kehler, Helen and Bill Klassen, Neil and Eileen Kehler, and Marie and Henry Dueck and more nieces and nephews. A host of friends, from early school days to far away Asian work assignments, also mourn a friend who was a wonderful blend of warmth, fun, “smarts” and strength of character. He is predeceased by his parents Cornelius and Luise Wiens Penner.
Born in Regina, SK, Henry spent his formative years on a three acre farm in Yarrow, BC. There he developed his interest in hunting, fishing, and sports of all kinds. In the summers he worked for his father at Clearbrook Frozen Foods. After graduating from high school, he continued in a similar vein and attended Oregon State University; graduating in 1964 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Science. During the summers of his university years, he continued to work at Clearbrook Frozen Foods with the fortunate, life-changing bonus of meeting his future bride in the company’s quality control lab. They were married on December 27th 1964 following his graduation.
After four years of working for Salada Foods (the new owners of his father’s business), Henry and his little family moved to Kelowna to work with Sun-Rype Food Products, where he took great pride in developing and manufacturing renowned fruit and juice products. His time with Sun-Rype also included extensive traveling to investigate and institute innovations to create new levels of product excellence. Following an exploratory trip to China to assess the feasibility of setting up a plant there, Henry retired after twenty-eight rewarding years.
Building on the rich skills and experiences he had gained in the Okanagan, Henry took his expertise abroad to about thirty countries as a food manufacturing and business management consultant. In some of the most desperate places in the world, his role was to provide help to small manufacturers to successfully create and sell products that would, in turn, improve their own lives. Some of his favourite locales were the Philippines, Indonesia, and Kyrgyzstan. His stories of these trips invariably involved graphic details of the obscure foods that were served to him; nothing was too daunting for him to try. Elsie was able to accompany him on some of these trips and as a result they developed many dear friends who remain part of their lives. During these years of foreign consulting, Henry continued to be involved back home, providing guidance to the Community Futures Development Corporation of Central Okanagan.
Although Henry will be remembered through his leadership positions at work and in the churches he attended, he will be best remembered for his personal qualities: his quiet expression of faith and values, his integrity and strength, his sense of humour and fun. He loved his wife and family deeply, he treasured his life-long friends and enjoying a good meal came a close third.
The celebration of his life will be held at Trinity Baptist Church, 1905 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 29th with Pastor Tim Schroeder officiating. Should you so desire, donations may be made to BC Heart and Stroke Foundation (www.heartandstroke.ca ). If you wish to send a condolence, post photos or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Share Your Condolences.”
Service
11:00 am on Saturday, August 29th
Location
Trinity Baptist Church
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Service Details
The service for PENNER, Henry Arnold is scheduled for 11:00 am on Saturday, August 29th . Below you will find the map for the service location and the contact information should you have any questions.
Henry was a good man. He walked humbly with his God. His life demonstrated his love for God, his wife, his family, his church and his friends. He will be sadly missed. Our love and prayers are extended to Elsie and family.
Elsie…and family…I am so sorry to read this news. I know how rich your life has been with Henry and the loss you must be feeling. I hope that in the fullness of time your grief will be tempered by the warmth of memories of time shared with him. Sending a very warm hug to you.
Mickey
Dear Elsie and family,
We are very sorry to hear of Henry’s passing. Elsie, we remember you and Henry fondly as part of our Trinity Baptist Church family experience when we lived in Kelowna. We pray for strength and comfort for all of you.
Dear Elsie & family
We are sorry to hear of your loss, our thoughts and prayers are with you & your family during this difficult time.
Elsie. Henry has left an indelible mark on my life. I remember seeing that big boyish grin when he was “stepping out” and doing things like wearing one of his Kyrgy hats! He and I shared many one on one moments that I will cherish. Humble, stoic, solid, quiet, funny, well dressed, hospitable, intelligent, faithful are just but a few of the immediate descriptions that come to my mind when I think of this great man. It is truly an honour that I had the chance to have this influential man and his wonderful family as part of my life. This really sucks and I am going to miss him. Love to you. Bob.
Dear Elsie,
Very sorry to hear of Henry’s passing. Henry always impressed me with his intelligence and gentle manner.
Dear Elsie and family,
My heartfelt condolences to you. You are in my thoughts and prayers today and in the days ahead.
Elsie:
We cannot imagine your sadness over the loss of your special life’s partner. Our thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficult time. Hugs from us,
Armand and Shirley Rochon
Was so nice to have a visit with you both on the boardwalk. Our condolences to you and your family. We were so lucky to have you as neighbours for so many years. Please take care, Don and Ina Kroschinsky
On behalf of those in the Harvest Senior Mens Golf Club who played golf with Henry when he was a member, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family on behalf of all of us. Henry was a quiet but very pleasant man whom we came to know in the years when he was a participant. He enjoyed the game and the camaraderie. His season would usually be interrupted with a consulting job in some far off land.
Paul S Bethel, Treasurer
Henry was a “tall” man, in stature and in integrity. He will be missed. My thoughts and prayers are with you Elsie and your family.
Henry
When I first met Henry he was an enigma and mystery to me, a larger than life man who was quiet but only until he spoke. And then Henry always had important things to say, important questions to ask our house church group. Henry wasn’t a line tower, and he wasn’t afraid to ask what everyone else was thinking. Henry was courageous and humble, and had a quiet confidence about all the things he knew so well how to do. Henry loved to tell stories. I recall many interesting tales around their table about his business relationships abroad, or how he was improving the way systems worked and food was processed, and what was actually in that food! Henry always managed to make friends with his clients, and I know from Elsie that their emails were a part time job keeping in touch with their growing collection of friends from overseas.
Henry used to scare me. I would go into panic mode each time we had small group meeting because I cared so much that Henry wouldn’t think I was a flakey woman. And then, one day, I knew he was safe and I could just be myself. Henry made us laugh, he had a great hat and funny shoe collection. Henry loved his spaces, and Elsie honoured his need of a man cave in their new condo layout.
I admire Henry and Elsie and their way of making a lifetime of active and intentional decisions. I can’t imagine Henry carrying many unrealized dreams into glory because he and Elsie lived each day to the full. They travelled, they served, they played sports and were hands on and all in with their granddaughters. They gave to their family, extended family, friends and church without holding back. While Henry’s health challenges meant relational changes for us and a new way of life for them, I continued to feel the quiet acceptance of his friendship.
I can imagine Henry’s “well done” being delivered with a high five and a huge grin from the big guy! So the sad part of saying goodbye to the big, gentle, and kind man who is Henry, is the vacancy that will never be filled. Too soon, my friend, too soon.
With my love,
Lesley-Anne
I remember Henry from the time I worked at Sun-Rype many years ago. He was very hard working, knowledgeable, decent and kind. My condolences to Henry’s family.
Elsie:
It has been a number of years since I have seen your smiling face at work. I just found out about Henry’s passing as I was away until August 29th. My deepest condolences to you and your family. You could always clearly see the love and respect you and Henry had for each other. You were a gift to each other’s lives.
Sincerely,
Eileen Sadlowski