Earl Penner

Earl David Penner, 65, left this earth on August 9th 2021 after a sudden illness. Earl was born on January 18th, 1956 in Steinbach, Manitoba Canada to Archie and Elvira Penner. When Earl was 5 years old, his father, moved the family to the US to teach as a college professor. The family lived in Iowa, Indiana, and Ohio. Earl graduated in 1974 from Central Christian High School in Kidron, OH. During his high school years, he was the school photographer and developed a love for the craft, especially sporting events. After graduation, he moved back to Canada and attended Steinbach Bible College in Manitoba.

Earl farmed commercial grains and oilseed crops (Canola,) for the international market, sometimes partnering with his brother and dad. The farm was large; several sections in Manitoba, and during that time, they also operated a feed lot and raised cattle for commercial beef. Earl also promoted basketball in Virden and introduced basketball to Kola, Manitoba, passionately coaching, and refereeing the sport. After years of farming and raising his family, he left farming and moved to Regina, Saskatchewan to further his education.
Earl’s education included: Operator for Powered Industrial Vehicles Certificate from Manitoba Safety Council; Ground Water Disturbance Certificate from Southeast College Winnipeg, Manitoba; Level 4 Power Engineering Certificate, Manitoba; Professional Certified Builder through the Building Performance Institute, Inc., New York; and he was also a licensed International Energy Conservation Code Inspector.

He was working for General Electric as a power engineer in Regina, Saskatchewan, when he decided to take his first cruise to the Caribbean out of Texas. He met Sharon Hillis the first night of the cruise, they fell in love, he moved to Midland, and they married on the beautiful day of August 3rd 2013, surrounded by loved ones and friends. After moving to Midland, Earl launched his own business redesigning and remodeling homes. He had a beautiful tenor voice and played guitar. He loved Johnny Reid; Crosby, Stills, and Nash; and John Fogerty. His hobbies included traveling, restoring old Dodge trucks, anything Mopar, redesigning and modifying his shops tools and equipment to make them even better, politics, remodeling areas of his and Sharon’s home, and camping in their RV trailer. His goal was for them to move to the coast and learn to fish and live somewhere beautiful near the beach.

Earl’s talent to diagnose, redesign, and successfully fix anything and everything was a gift from God. His passion for building and successfully problem solving issues was impressive and kept all of the rest of us amazed. Earl was good-natured, friendly and positive. He loved to joke around and play games on game night either with just Sharon or with their buddies. He was always happy with a huge, contagious smile on his face and a beautiful, upbeat, positive, and fun attitude and he loved being with his friends, and always Sharon.

Earl is survived by his wife, Sharon Hillis of Midland, Texas, USA; his children in Canada: Jonas Penner of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Hannah Penner of Virden, Manitoba; Rachel Penner of Victoria, British Columbia; Hazel Rankovic (Nenad) and Grandson Julius of Winnipeg, Manitoba; Sister and brother-in-law Luci and Bob Yutzy of Virdin, Manitoba; Brother and sister-in-law, James and Joy Penner of Airdrie, Alberta; an uncle and aunt, Leander and Joyce Friesen of Tomball, Texas, USA; nephew, Larry Petkaw; and long-time and loyal best friend, Garth Charko of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. He is also survived by his feline son, William David Penner of Midland, Texas.

Earl was proceeded in death by his parents Archie and Elvira Penner of Canada and son-in-law Tim Palanuik.

A memorial service and family visitation will take place at 3:00pm on Monday, August 16th, 2021 at Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home Chapel on Big Spring Street in Midland, Texas. A memorial will also take place in Virden / Kola, Manitoba, Canada in the near future when Sharon takes Earl home.

Flowers are welcomed for the service and will be shared afterwards throughout the retirement homes in the community. If, however, you choose instead, you may donate bags of dry dog or cat food or cases of canned cat food and deliver it to Sharon at 4622 Princeton Ave, Midland, Texas 79703 in Earl’s honor. It will be greatly appreciated, for the need is huge, and will be lovingly shared with local animal foster families and rescues to support the needs of our homeless, abused, and abandoned dogs and cats in our local Midland community.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.