Obituary of Florence Penner

PENNER – Mrs. Florence Mary (Hopkins) of Swift Current, Saskatchewan passed away Friday, October 7, 2011 at her home at the age of 84 years. The funeral service was held Thursday, October 13, 2011 at 2:00pm from the Parkside Memorial Funeral Home, Swift Current, SK. with Reverend Jonathon Hoskin officiating. The interment took place at the HillcrestCemetery in Swift Current, Saskatchewan. The pall bearers were: Wayne Sabine, Michael Sabine, Vince Taylor, Kyle Hynne, Gord Neufeld and Allan Moen. Honourary pall bearers were special friends Rita Legault and Mary Neufeld and all who shared in her life. Florence is survived by her daughters: Sharon Giesbrecht, of Swift Current and Linda (Doug) Hynne of Regina; granddaughters: Brianne Giesbrecht and Kelsey (Brody) Gibson; grandson: Kyle Hynne; sisters – in law Elsie Penner, Mary Davidson, Kay Moen, Margaret (Dave) Wiebe, Eva Loewen, and Sarah Penner and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband John Penner, parents Amelia (Verrier) and Jess Hopkins; and son in law Stan Giesbrecht; brothers in law Abe, Cornie, Ben and Jake Penner and; sisters in law: Agnes Wiebe, Ann Martens, Betty Guenther and Helen Janzen; brothers-in-law: Roy Henning, George Janzen, Jake Guenther, Jim Davidson, Henry Martens, Jake Loewen and Philip Moen. Florence was born in Swift Current on March 14, 1927. She received her education at the BigfordSchool and by correspondence. She moved to Swift Current to work for Mr. and Mrs. Ridge Booker as a housekeeper. She was united in marriage to John Penner on March 29, 1954 in Medicine Hat, AB. The couple moved to her family farm in the Bigford District where they raised their daughters. Florence spent many hours riding her horses up until the age of 65, herding cattle and riding in the hills to pick wild raspberries, choke cherries and saskatoons. Florence had a great love of horses, dogs and cats. She was a hard working farm wife who drove the grain truck, farm machinery, stacked bales, fixed fence, milked cows, gardened and did any other farm task that was required. Florence was an only child who grew up with her grandfather George Holloway Hopkins as her playmate. She was also her father’s hired “man” on the farm. She spent many hours riding with Olive (Leonard) Baxter through the coulees and together they made trips to Braddock to the store. She often talked about the many horses she rode to school and the grey hound dogs she owned. She was a 4-H Lighthorse Leader for the Burnham 4-H club. Her love of horses and her equestrian knowledge was passed on to her daughters and her granddaughter Brianne. Upon retiring from the farm in 1991 they moved to Swift Current where she enjoyed gardening. She was especially fond of her raspberry patch and the tiger lilies in the flower beds. She and John spent many hours fishing. She enjoyed going for walks and playing games with her grandchildren, collecting china teacups and salt and pepper shakers, playing card games with family and friends. She and John moved to the Pioneer Manor where she made many new friends and became reacquainted with old friends. She spent time doing puzzles, playing cards and shuffle board. In her spare time she enjoyed knitting. She made sweaters, socks and many dish cloths. In her memory donations can be made to the Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Diabetes Association. For further information or to sign the family book of condolence, visit our website at www.parksidefuneralhome.com. Arrangements were in care of Parkside Memorial Funeral Home.