Gertrude Willms (Penner)
January 5, 1932 - January 2, 2024
Tribute
Gertrude was born to David and Gertrude Penner on January 5, 1932 in Winnipeg, MB.
She moved with her family to Sardis, B.C. when she was fourteen-years-old. At the age
of fifteen she accepted Christ as her Saviour, and was baptized at the age of seventeen.
She was a member of the Greendale MB Church until her marriage to John Willms in
1955, when they transferred to Matsqui MB Church.
John and Gertie were dairy farmers in the Mt. Lehman area until 1972, when they
moved to the Fort St. John area with their four children, Ken, Lorne, Shirley, and Scott.
Here they had a grain farm and raised beef cattle. They enjoyed the fellowship of the
North Peace MB Church and were actively involved in several areas of ministry.
Gertrude’s favourite ministry was teaching a class of two-year-olds in Sunday School,
which she did for almost twenty years. They were always involved in hospitality, and
especially so after they semi-retired and left the farm in 1993 to live in Fort St. John.
Another enjoyable aspect of Gertie’s life was being a member of the North Peace
Horticultural Association and growing a beautiful flower garden, besides participating in
and arranging annual garden tours and flower shows at the North Peace Fall Fair.
In 2005 John and Gertie retired to a condo in Abbotsford. Gertrude passed away on
January 2, 2024. Gertrude was predeceased by her husband, John Willms, her parents,
David and Gertrude Penner, an infant sister Charlotte, brother Victor, and sister Eleanor.
Family that celebrates Gertrude’s life are her sister Helen (Bill) Kuehn, sister-in-law
Alice Penner, brother Wally (Julia) Penner, and brother-in-law Rudy (Christine) Willms,
Gertrude’s children Ken (Joyce) Willms, Lorne (Heather) Willms, Shirley (Glenn)
Roszmann, Scott (Kathy) Willms, Gertrude’s grandchildren Kirk (Ashley) Willms, Becky
Willms, Oliver (Jana) Willms, Elissa Willms, Justin (Joanna) Roszmann, Kimmie
(Jeremy) Cameron, Steven (Allie) Roszmann, Rachelle (Josh) Stobbe, Chelsea Willms,
Chantelle (Caleb) Wiebe, and great grandchildren Bruin, Shepherd, Wynn, Finley, Alora,
Emilia, Calvin, Zachary, Gracie, Lily, Benjamin, Jason, Ethan, Clay.
Condolences
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From: Wiebe and Jeske Funeral Home
Wiebe and Jeske Funeral Home Staff send our condolences to family and friends.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Life
Date & Time:
February 2, 2024
Beginning at 11:00am
Location:
Clearbrook MB Church
2719 Clearbrook Road
Abbotsford, BC Canada
Watch Live
https://www.clearbrookmbchurch.ca/pages/watch-live
2719 Clearbrook Road
Abbotsford, BC Canada
Memorial Gifts
The family has not designated a preferred charity at this time.
Thank You Notice
Live Service
Watch Live https://www.clearbrookmbchurch.ca/pages/watch-liveSend Flowers
Floral Tributes may be ordered directly through our supplier for delivery throughout the entire lower mainland, from Hope to Vancouver:
Wiebe & Jeske Funeral Home
202-31314 Peardonville Rd.
Abbotsford BC
V2T 6K8
info@wiebeandjeskefh.com
604-859-5885
When ordering please have the name of the deceased, the date of the funeral service and the address/phone number of the delivery location for handy reference.
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