There are condolences waiting approval on Michael's Tribute wall
Celebrating the life of Michael R. Penner
Be the first to share your favorite memory, photo or story of
Michael.
This memorial page is dedicated for family, friends and future generations to celebrate
the life of their loved one.
We ask on behalf of the family that you keep your comments uplifting and appropriate
to help all who come here to find comfort and healing.
Obituary for Michael R. Penner
Michael Rodney Penner November 11th, 1949 – February 22nd, 2021
Michael Penner passed away peacefully at his home on the evening of February 22nd, 2021 at the age of 71.
Michael, birth name Rodney Michael Penner, was born on November 11th, 1949 in Steinbach, Manitoba to Joseph and Katherine Penner. He spent his formidable years in Steinbach, enjoying sports, fast cars, learning to fly in a Cessna 150, and working for his father at Penner Electric.
Michael relocated to Fresno, CA in 1969 to attend Pacific College, where he earned his Bachelor’s of Arts in Business with a minor in Mathematics. He continued on to pursue a Master’s in Business at Fresno State University before leaving to pursue a career in the door business full-time. His forty-year career as a project manager oversaw hundreds of developments that spanned the entire state of California, most notably with Pine Tree Building Materials in Fresno and Surecraft Supply Inc. in Escondido. Michael decidedly retired in 2012 to concentrate on his health and family, settling in Vacaville, CA in 2013 to be closer to his children in the Bay Area.
Michael’s life in California was as adventurous as it was intentional and purposeful. Whether he was flying his Cessna 172 Skyhawk to the Owens Valley to fish the alpine lakes of the Eastern Sierra on horseback, skiing its western slopes through winter storms, waterskiing at Pine Flat during the summer months, or teeing off on golf courses throughout the Central Valley, Michael always centered his life around his family and friends. An impassioned storyteller, he often spoke of his life experiences with a meticulous appreciation and wonderment, always with a lesson to be learned or moral to be shared at its end. Michael was habitually interested in that which he did not yet know and strove to compassionately discern and understand all he encountered to the best of his ability.
Michael is remembered by his family for his humor, quick wit, work ethic, reliability, and dedication to his children and grandchildren. A proverbial “man of his word,” his commitment to upholding truth, morality, and responsibility were constants in his life, qualities that have been bestowed upon the generations of Penners he leaves behind.
Michael is survived by and is survived by his children Carlos, Bradley, and Kristi; his grandson Alejandro; his siblings Loreena and Gary; his daughter-in-law Alicia; his “favorite ex-wife” Janie. An entire family of surviving nieces, nephews, and cousins also mourn his passing. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Katherine and his brother Randy.
A celebration of Michael’s life will be held in Fresno, CA on a yet-to-be-determined date.
