Gregory R. Penner

Obituary

In the words Charles Dickens, one of Greg’s favourite authors, “It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known” (A Tale of Two Cities). For those who knew and loved him, we rejoice that Greg is finally at rest in the arms of his Saviour.

Greg was born on January 19, 1961 in Ste. Anne. He was the eldest child of Mervin and Nettie Penner, and brother to Rick and Terry. Their family lived in Blumenort until 1962, when they moved to Maryfield, Saskatchewan for eight years. Then in 1972 they moved to Steinbach, where Greg’s family still resides.

After graduating from grade school in Steinbach, Greg went on to obtain his certificate in accounting from Red River College in Winnipeg. Given his innate ability to work with numbers and acute attention to detail, he graduated at the top of his class. Over the years, he put his talents to work for establishments such as Penn-Co, Hanover School Division and Progressive Tax Services.

In 1978, Greg met Myrna Broesky of Steinbach and they were married two years later on August 15, 1980. They were later blessed with two daughters, Whitney and Avery. Their family expanded again in 2013, when Whitney married Tylor Reimer and Avery married Colin Enns. Then in 2017, Greg became a grandpa to Forrest, son of Whitney and Tylor. His family will remember Greg as a fun and loving father and grandfather. His daughters will always cherish memories of their family trips, movie and board game nights, playing music and reading classics together, and laughing at his endless dad jokes.

Greg enthusiastically shared his passions for music, literature, and film with his friends and family, though he will be remembered most fondly for his musical talents. Greg was an incredibly gifted lyricist and musician. He felt music should be an honest reflection of one’s soul and it was through his music that he best expressed himself – his beliefs and fears, his failures and victories, his hopes and dreams. Many will know him from his band days, playing in Sweetwater Creek and One 80, and he considered his bandmates as brothers. He also played for many years in the worship bands at Full Gospel Chapel in Steinbach and Gospel Chapel in La Broquerie.

Over the years, Greg’s battle with Borderline Personality Disorder, Major Depression and Anxiety Disorder began to take a more notable toll on life. Despite the ongoing efforts of his friends and family, as well as his team of medical, mental health, and spiritual care providers, his condition continued to deteriorate, and he was no longer able to participate in life as fully as he desired to. Yet in spite of the tremendous hardships he faced, Greg held fast to his faith in Christ and believed in the power of prayer. God heard every one of his prayers and of those who loved him, answering them unexpectedly on Thursday, November 1, 2018. Early in the morning Greg passed away from natural causes and was taken home to Heaven by His Saviour. While it is with great difficulty that we say goodbye to Greg in this lifetime, we rejoice in knowing that his mind and body are now fully healed and at peace, and that we will one day see him again.

Greg is survived by Myrna, two daughters, Whitney (Tylor) and Avery (Colin) and his grandson Forrest. He is also survived by his parents, Mervin and Nettie, two brothers, Rick and Terry (Susanne), their families and the Broesky family.

The funeral service will be held on Thursday, November 8, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. at Southland Church, Steinbach, MB, with viewing prior to the service. A private family burial will take place the following day.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Greg may be made to Eden East Health Care Services, 21 Loewen Blvd, Steinbach, MB R5G 0L4.

• mySteinbach Jobs
• Steinbach Homes
• Steinbach Real Estate
• Steinbach Jobs
• RSS Feeds
• Get in Touch