GEORGE PENNER

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GEORGE PENNER

George Penner was born near the village of Osterwick, south of Winkler, to Peter D. and Anna (Neufeld) Penner.
George was predeceased by his parents, three brothers, David, Peter and Cornelius.
He is survived by two sisters, Helen Falk and Mary Falk.
George was married to Marion Friesen on August 15, 1954. They had four children, Brian, Robert (deceased), Harold (deceased) and daughter Valerie. He is also survived by three grandchildren, Yishai, Tavi and Tobiah Markovitz.
The Penner family moved to Winkler in 1935, where they went into the Penner's Meats and Groceries business, as well as cattle buying and an abattoir operation. George was involved in the business at a very young age, managing the store at age 16. A fire in 1961 destroyed the Penner businesses, Penner Meats and Groceries and their Town and Country Café, along with six other businesses in Winkler.
George and Marion, together with his brother Cornelius, spent one summer on a family farm in the Turtle Mountains. After that, they moved to Portage la Prairie where George worked for the IGA food chain. When the manager of the IGA store in Steinbach became ill, George was asked to fill in for him and then they asked him to manage their store. George and family moved to Steinbach in 1962. In 1964, P.J. Reimer of Reimer Agencies asked George if he would want to manage their real estate and rental department. That was the beginning of George's career in real estate.
In 1971, George started his own business, George Penner Realty and in 1976 he bought a Century 21 franchise. George was the first to make real estate a full-time job. He was the first to own a real estate franchise in the Steinbach area and the first to employ a female real estate agent in Steinbach. The company had as many as 12 agents. George received his designation as a Fellow of the Real Estate Institute after finishing the course at the University of Manitoba.
In 1988, George and George Neufeld purchased 62 acres of land on the north side of Steinbach and developed 99 residential and six commercial lots. The area became known as Georgetown – after the two Georges who developed it.
George was a past president of both the Winkler and Steinbach Chambers of Commerce, ACL in Steinbach, past president of the MREA, was a town councillor for one term and past president of the Steinbach and area Lions Club.
George enjoyed good health and was active in hockey, curling, baseball and 55 plus slo-pitch. George enjoyed his transactions with people and enjoyed his career in real estate. He said he didn't need any hobbies. His work was his hobby.
Beginning last December, George started feeling unwell. He underwent many tests, but nothing showed up. This month he developed shingles and became very weak. His illness caused his immune system to become severely compromised and he passed away Friday, November 20, 2020. His wife of 66 years, Marion and daughter Valerie were at his bedside when he took his final breath. He will be deeply missed by his family and his many friends.
A private family service took place on Monday, November 23.
Donations may be made to enVision, Steinbach.
Arrangements by Birchwood Funeral Chapel.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Nov 28, 2020