Tribute

With great sadness, we announce that Robert Penner, of Richmond, BC, passed away on October 5, 2023, after a year-long battle with cancer.

Rob, the youngest of 12 children, was born on April 4, 1960, to George and Edna Penner in Mission, BC. After graduating from W.J. Mouat Secondary School, Abbotsford, Rob attended His Hill Bible School in Comfort, Texas. From there he joined a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training School in Salem, Oregon. In 1981, Rob travelled to Hong Kong to participate in a YWAM Far East Evangelism Team. There he met Joy Williams, and they were married two years later. Rob and Joy went on to adopt two boys Yik Wah (Joseph Alan) and Yik Man (Benjamin James).

Although Rob did not go to university to complete an undergrad, he was well-educated, and over time, he acquired two master’s degrees (MDiv & ThM) from Regent College, Vancouver, and both a Doctor of Intercultural Studies and a Doctor of Education in Intercultural Studies from Western Seminary, Portland.

Rob served as a missionary in Hong Kong and China as well as pastored in five different churches in Canada and Hong Kong. In addition, he co-authored and wrote several books. Rob delighted in languages. He read Greek and Hebrew and spoke Mandarin and Cantonese. He appreciated nature and enjoyed kayaking, hiking and bird watching. Above all, he loved God and his Word.

Rob was predeceased by his parents George and Edna Penner, his father-in-law, Alan Williams, his eldest brother, Henry Penner, his brother’s-in-law John Oddy, John McRae and Paul Paxon, his sister-in-law, Mary Penner and his nephew, Brian Penner.

He is survived by his wife Joy, his sons Yik Wah (Penny) and Yik Man (Carmen), his two grandchildren Noah and Ruthie, his mother-in-law Fay Williams, sister-in-law Gail Penner, his siblings Ruth (Dick), Rudy, Edna, Mary, Linda (Ken), Carol, Della (Sal), Jim (Twylla), Gary (Cecilia), Rick (Cindy) and many nieces and nephews.

A service will be held at Willingdon Church, Burnaby on October 14, 4:00 pm. The live-stream link can be found at https://willingdon.org on the day

Rob was passionate about the sojourner, the marginalised, the refugee. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to:

https://www.journeyhomecommunity.ca/give-today

https://multiply.net/project/migrants-hope