Katharina Penner (nee Wiebe)

Obituary for Katharina Penner (nee Wiebe) Katharina Penner passed away on Friday, March 28th, 2025, at the age of 91 years and 6 months, surrounded by her family. She was predeceased by her husband, Henry G. Penner in 1992, her parents in 1979 and 1983, and 1 son and 1 daughter in infancy.

She is survived by: Her son, Bernie (Valerie), grandchildren - Jeffrey, Jeromy, Joel, James and 1 great grandchild. Her daughter, Liz (Tim), grandchildren - Amy (Warren), Kelsey (Rachelle) and 8 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. Her daughter Linda (John), grandchildren - Jonathan (Brya), Jessica (Devon), Joshua (Jaylene) and 10 great grandchildren. Her son Travis (Jacqui), grandchildren - Aidan, Ashton, and Mya.

Katharina Penner (nee Wiebe) was born to Klaas and Elisabeth Wiebe on Oct 1, 1933 in Cuauhtemac, Mexico. At the age of 11 they moved to Canada, where they settled in the New Hope district on a farm. She enjoyed going to school and helping on the farm. At the age of 17 in 1950-1951, mom enrolled in The New Hope Happy Gang Sewing Club to learn how to sew a dress, which she enjoyed immensely and looked forward to learning more.

In the 50's era, the only way to meet a potential suiter, was for young men to drive onto yards and ask if there was any girl available for dating. One evening a truck pulled onto the yard and there were 2 men in there. Her dad went outside to check things out and came back shortly and said "Those old bucks you don't need to date". Then one day, while driving by a farmhouse south of Plum Coulee, they saw a young man on the yard working and her dad said "If that guy comes onto the yard, you can date him." Lo and behold, a short time later, a farm truck came on the yard and that same young man was behind the wheel. They were both believers and had been baptized upon confession of their faith, dad in the Sommerfeld church, and mom in the Old Colony. They were married on July 8, 1956. They farmed south of Plum Coulee where they raised their family. In addition to grain farming, they also had cows for milking, pigs (farrowing in the early years and feeders later), chickens, ducks and geese. She helped dad on the farm, driving tractors, combine, and trucks with grain to unload into the bins.

In their married life, mom was on 2 Ladies groups, 1 from Plum Coulee and 1 from the Grimsby district, which she enjoyed immensely. She also took a turn as president of Grimsby Mission Group. She kept ledgers of the times she was there. She taught sewing in the Plum Coulee 4H club for a number of years. She joined the Sommerfeld Church Mass choir and remained in it for many years. She loved the singing and we enjoyed going to the performances at Christmas time. She worked at the Plum Coulee Thrift Store for numerous years and also at Altona MCC atter moving to Altona.

In August of 1991 dad became sick with leukemia and after chemo treatment he was in remission for about 7 months. When the leukemia returned, with a minimal chance of remission, he decided against further treatments. He then prepared for an auction sale of his farm equipment and tools (so mom wouldn't have to deal with that alone). After his passing in 1992 she stayed on the farm with Travis till 2003, when they moved to Altona. She had many widowed friends from church and the community, that met together frequently for games, going out for suppers and monthly birthday breakfasts as a support for each other.

She had an adventurous spirit and embarked on numerous bus trips - East coast, Mexico, Pennsylvania, Mexico/California.

In 2013 she moved to Buffalo apartments where she lived till Sep 30, 2024, when she got a room at the apartments at the Gardens. She was already having homecare to help her with medications and personal care, so the staff at the apartments continued to help her with whatever she needed. She received great care from all of them.

For the last week or so she was coughing and nauseous, and having a hard time breathing. On Friday morning, Linda and Travis went to pick her up to bring her to urgent care at Altona hospital. After numerous tests, we were told she was in mutli-organ failure and the family was called in. We stayed with her till she was called home to her loving Saviour, Jesus Christ. She passed away peacefully with her family beside her.

We as a family would like to thank all the staff at the apartments for all the care they gave her, the homecare staff that cared for her, the hospital staff and doctor that cared for her at the hospital. Also, Abe from Wiebe's Funeral Home for his compassion and care, Terry Toews for his visit at the hospital and service at the funeral, Ang for making her look beautiful, the ladies that served at the church, the piano player, the song leaders, the ushers, pallbearers/honorary pallbearers and all her friends who helped her in her loneliness without dad. Thank you also to friends and family for your prayers, flowers and condolences.

We know she is safe in the arms of Jesus.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Altona Sommerfeld Mennonite Church with burial at the Plum Coulee Cemetery. Viewing will be at Wiebe Funeral Home Altona on Saturday, April 5, from 1:00 - 6:30 p.m. 

Burial will take place prior to the service at the Plum Coulee Cemetery.

Donations in memory of Katharina can be made to Stars Ambulance.