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LEONARD (LEN) PENNIE
Born: Jul 27, 1942
Date of Passing: Feb 28, 2009
Send Flowers to the Family Offer Condolences or MemoryLEONARD (LEN) PENNIE On Saturday, February 28, 2009, Leonard died at the Deer Lodge Centre at the age of 66 years. Family and friends of Leonard Pennie remember him as a quiet man with a wonderful sense of humour and a heart of gold, who could be depended on to help when help was needed. Remaining to forever cherish Len's memory are Beth, his wife of 44 years; his children Neil and Cristen; grandson Tanner, who was the light of his life, and his son-in-law Neil D'Souza. He also leaves behind his brothers Peter (and Marie), Tom (and Ann) and his sister Judy as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his father Peter and mother Martha. Born on July 27, 1942, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Len spent his early years in the area of Elmwood on Martin Avenue where, as a young boy, he could be seen on his bicycle delivering bread from Saunders' Bakery. Many of his boyhood companions remained life-long friends. He spent 33 years of his life in the service of the Manitoba Telephone System, during which time he established friendships which continued after retirement. Len was an outdoorsman to the core. In his younger years he was a member of the Winnipeg Gliding Club as well as enjoying scuba diving and motorcycle riding. Summers at Toniata campground were a family ritual, where Len's Sol Cat was a familiar sight on Falcon Lake. In more recent times his wide and varied enthusiastic activities included cycling, canoeing, cross-country skiing and camping. He enjoyed nothing more than a swim at Birdshill Park with his grandson Tanner. His sense of duty and caring was never more evident than in the seven years he spent caring for his wife Beth following a debilitating stroke she suffered in 1999. During the past two years Len was a victim of Lewy Body Dementia, an aggressive form of Alzheimer's, to which he succumbed peacefully on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at the age of 66. As per Len's wishes a private cremation has already taken place and a scattering of his ashes will take place at a later date. A special thanks to the staff of B4 in St. Boniface Hospital as well as the Deer Lodge Center for taking extra special care of Len over the past 16 months. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Alzheimer's Society of Manitoba, Unit 10-120 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3C 4G2, would be appreciated by the family.
As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 07, 2009
Condolences & Memories (2 entries)
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As an old ‘boyhood’ companion, I would like to add a little ‘insight’ to some of the information as stated in his obituary. Before living on Martin Ave, Len lived on the corner of Brazier and Jamison, where the ice cream store stands, or did. He was just across the street from where I lived at Saunders Bake Shop, now Kildonan Pets, I think. We were the best of friends for a long time. On numerous occasions, Len would join my family at the cottage on Dorothy Lake where we would spend most of our time on the water in my boat called the JINX. You could find us either riding the ‘shack door’ surf board behind JINX or exploring places like Pinawa dam, before there was a town, Sharkeys Channel, or our favourite, English River. On the drive home we always stopped at ‘Fred and Vics’ for ‘nip and chips’, in Beausejour, and, of course, a Pepsi for Len. Our SCUBA diving started with dives in the pits at Birds Hill, where we would jack up the rear wheel of my 1937 Nash and hold an old Coke cooler compressor to the turning wheel with a garden hose attached so we could breathe under water. Our sailing on Lake Windermere when a friend loaned us his 15 foot Sea Spray catamaran. That was the start of a new hobby for both of us. Much later Len and his family met Rita and I on the west coast where he rented a 28 foot Catalina and with my 30 foot Catalina, we sailed for a week through the Gulf Islands. I also remember him driving the 1500 miles, one way, by himself, to sail with me for a week end on my Catalina. His early canoe trips were usually to Bird River where we would rent some old beat up aluminum canoes. 20 years later, Ted Yarema, Len and myself repeated one of those Bird River trips. After high school, we drifted apart but he always called me on my birthday for a ‘catch up’. My 1937 Nash played a big part in our lives. It had a trunk that you could climb into from the back seat, which really cut down on the cost of going to a drive in movie. It was also the car that Len borrowed to take Beth out on their first date. He later bought it from me for $100. I miss my annual phone call! Rest In Peace old friend. Rick Saunders. Nanaimo - Posted by: Rick Saunders (Friend) on: Nov 06, 2020
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My condolences to your family Neil and Cristen. Very sorry about the hardships in your life. If you read this Neil, give me a call, I've been trying to get a hold of you, your bud always, Tim. - Posted by: Timothy Kauth (Family) on: Mar 20, 2009