Tribute

Diedrich Penner, age 83, of Surrey, BC, Canada passed away on March 24, 2026 as a result of a sudden and tragic accident. He was struck by a vehicle while crossing a crosswalk on his way to the swimming pool. We are comforted to know that he did not suffer.

Born to John and Elizabeth (Harder) Penner in Loma Plata, Paraguay, Diedrich was raised in a Mennonite colony filled with large families and growing farmsteads in their first decades of community life in Paraguay’s Chaco region.

Diedrich was blessed with 2 younger sisters and 7 brothers (5 older and 2 younger). They remained dear to him throughout his entire life.

Over the years, Diedrich found work in a variety of capacities in both construction and farming. He was also the first of his siblings to attend formal post-secondary schooling in Paraguay, which the family was proud of.

As was typical then, there was some travel and connection between the Mennonite
communities in Paraguay and Canada. It was in this space that Diedrich met his wife, Justa Kauenhowen, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage. In their years together, they became and remained followers of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination.

Diedrich and Justa raised 7 children together. Diedrich loved and was proud of each one of them.

Diedrich and Justa spent years in both Paraguay and Canada, settling in the Lower Mainland permanently in 1994. He loved spending time in good conversation with family and friends, playing his accordion and savoring a hot yerba mate or a cold terere. He enthusiastically made good use of any chance that he had to be in or near the water. He was always a most appreciative participant in our Penner family dinners.

He is survived by his wife Justa and his children Renate, Siegfried (Nadine), Richard (Sangeetha), Sandra, Raimond (Angela), Sharon (Jesse) and Norbert (Kelly). His grandchildren are Petra, Tabea (Mackenzie), Beatrice (Tristan), Jedrek, Wolfgang and Ryan. He is also survived by his siblings Johan, Lena (Jacob), Andreas (Marichen) and Gerhardt (Rosi), sister-in-laws Tina and Eva, several Kauenhowen siblings with their spouses and many nieces, nephews and friends.

He was predeceased by his parents, siblings Peter, Heinrich (Tin), Abram, Jacob and Marichen and sister-in-laws Ann, Tin and Liz.

Diedrich lived a full and meaningful life marked by hard work, devotion to family and a deep love for the world around him. He is deeply missed.