Dianne Juliet Penner

Dianne was born November 2, 1943, to Alfred P. and Pauline Quasso Penner at St. Boniface, MB.

She passed away in the early hours of November 6, 2022, having battled cancer the last several years. She was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite, by her grandfather, John M. Penner in 1956, at Greenland, MB. She was a faithful member through all her life.

She received her first 9 years of education at the Greenland South School and moved with her parents to Whitemouth in 1959 to a dairy farm, working hard at the many chores that entailed. She had taken her Grade 11 by correspondence and then went on to finish Grade 12 in Whitemouth with the aim of nursing. She got her teaching permit in order to teach at the local Hutterite Colony to earn money for her nursing education which she started in 1965, graduating in 1968 as RN. She spent most of her nursing career at the Bethesda Hospital in Steinbach, but also spent some years at the Winnipeg Children’s Homes, some years at Maplewood Manor as the DON, also working as the DON in Winkler and in total, 7 years in Haiti, in charge of the Canada - Haiti TB program, making close friendships with the missionaries, workers and Haitian members and fellow nurses there. When she retired in 2008, she started a second career in quilt making, giving her meticulous attention to detail, and blessing her family with her numerous, beautiful quilts. This attention to detail was a mark of her character all through her life.

She did not live her life without struggles, but she would say it wasn’t her faith that saved her, but only the unmerited love and mercy of God and the redeeming blood of her Savior, Jesus Christ.

She leaves to mourn her sisters, Averill and Theodore Penner, Norquay, SK; Lucille and Henry Friesen, Whitemouth, MB; Myrna and Gregory Large, Brandon, MB. Brothers, Dale and Joyce Penner, Seven Sisters, MB; Randal and Arlene Penner, Stenen, SK; Alfred and Susan Penner, Edmonton, AB; Franklin and Valerie Penner, Whitemouth, MB; Dewey and Barbara Penner, Uniontown, AL. A foster sister Tammy, one surviving Uncle Eugene and Aunt Lottie Quasso, very special friends, Kevin and Lavaun Reimer and 35 beloved nephews and nieces, whom she loved very dearly and who all have such special memories of their dear Aunt Dianne.

She was predeceased by a nephew, a nephew in law and a great nephew.

A viewing will be held at 6:00 pm on Friday, November 11, 2022, at Crossings Funeral Care with sharing of memories beginning at 7:00 pm. Those unable to attend may join via Livestream.

The funeral service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Steinbach Church of God in Christ Mennonite, 280 Loewen Blvd., Steinbach, MB, followed by a reception, and an interment in the Whitemouth Church of God in Christ Mennonite Cemetery, Elma MB.  The family invites those unable to attend the funeral service in person to join them via audio stream.