Obituary of Peter Penner

Peter Penner

1925 - 2021

I am so sad to say that Peter Penner – husband to Marg, father to Nancy, opa to Tola, brother to Lora and friend to many - passed away on Thursday, Feb 25, 2021 in his 96^th year. 

Dad was born in Waldheim, SK in 1925 shortly after his parents arrived in Canada from Russia in flight from the Bolshevic revolution that threatened the lives of many.  Building a life from the ground up on the Canadian prairies during the great depression was no small feat and the family moved several times before landing in Rabbit Lake, SK where they were able to settle permanently.  This was the start of Dad’s life as a farmer.  The land was rough and the family broke it by hand over time, moved thousands of stones, raised a barn and joined the community.  This early experience of homesteading alongside his  parents and two siblings was so very central to the great man that Dad was: the man who could build or fix anything; the man who would put every ounce of energy into making something important the best that it could possibly be; the man that would step up in support of any neighbor who needed a hand.  In this day, it is hard to imagine the ‘firsts’ on that farm - the first tractor, the first car, the first electric washing machine, the first indoor plumbing.  Hard work it was, and there was many a winter that Dad and his brother worked either in the nickel mines in Ontario or travelled across Saskatchewan building grain elevator annexes to invest in the farm.

Dad’s life was very much one of service.  Beyond the food that he grew and that made its way to many parts of the world, he played an ongoing and important role in the community of Rabbit Lake.  I doubt that there is even one town building that Dad didn’t help to plan, build or maintain in some way.  The rink, the community hall, the senior’s center, the ‘beer parlor’ and hotel all hold his sweat in their bones as do many homes - including the one that he built for my Mom when they married in 1962.  Building was such satisfying work for Dad.  Something about the act of planning, the orderly approach to construction and the utility of the outcome seem very aligned with his approach to life. Dad also spent years as part of both the town and municipality councils.

It would be incomplete, though, to remember Dad’s life in this way alone.  Certainly, the good old ‘protestant work ethic’ was alive and well in Dad but he had a well-honed sense of fun as well.  We all know the twinkle in his eye and sly smile that would present themselves when Dad was about to tell a good joke!  Dad put his skills to use to build his first fishing boat, his first pair of skis and, as I was arriving on the scene, the cabin at Meeting Lake that holds so many of my cherished childhood memories.  This is where we gathered on most summer weekends with great friends, for great bbqs and great laughs.

Dad wound down his farming career in phases beginning with the rental and ultimate sale of his land and farm equipment.  Mom retired from teaching in the early phase and this created space for them to step into retirement beautifully.  It was Dad’s brother, Art, who discovered an alternative to bitterly cold prairie winters in Yuma, Arizona. Mom and Dad were so very grateful for the 20 years that they were able to enjoy Arizona with friends and family.  It was a well-deserved time of ease and contentment.  Post retirement summers in Rabbit Lake continued in the vein of pre-retirement summers, though on a smaller scale.  Dad’s building projects shifted from fully restoring mid-century tractors and trucks to building small transport trailers.  His farming skills were applied to his potato patch instead of acres of grain fields.  The cabin was sold but the visiting and laughter continued on the deck of the house. 

By 2016, this had become too much to sustain. During the summer of Dad’s 90^th birthday and after 80 years as a member of the Rabbit Lake community, Mom and Dad sold their home and moved to a retirement condo in Saskatoon – a lovely, bright apartment on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River.  While Dad predictably complained about ‘feeling useless’ :) , he appreciated the comfort that this last stop had to offer.  Dad’s last year was a tough one as his mobility and overall health deteriorated.  So, while his passing leaves a hole in our hearts, we are grateful that he is free of his failing body and at peace after a life well lived.

Cremation has occurred and we will celebrate Dad’s life at a service in Rabbit Lake during the summer.  To honor Dad’s life, a community spirited donation can be made to the Rose Gill Lodge (the care home in Rabbit Lake).  Cheques can be made out to Rabbit Lake Health Care Center and mailed to PO Box 157, Rabbit Lake, SK, S0M 2L0.