Jacob was born in the tiny village of Port Royal in Southern Ontario on December 17, 1933. Jacob’s parents, Jacob and Sarah Penner, new to Southern Ontario, homesteaded an 80-acre farm outside Port Rowan. Growing up on the farm meant chores and hard work. Jacob was the youngest of seven children. After completing Grade 9, Jake spent some years working on the farm and then, in 1956, he attended Bible School. After Bible School, he spent a year working, then he went to Bible College in Winnipeg where attendance was allowed even though high school was not complete. It was while he was in Winnipeg that he met Linda who was from Coaldale, AB, and on July 1, 1959, they were married in her hometown. After their wedding, they returned to Southern Ontario and Jake completed his high school education and then went on to Teacher’s College. He taught in St. Williams through to the end of 1964 when he moved his young family to the United States so that he could further his education at the university in Kansas. It was while attending school that he received his call to the church, and he took on the pastoring of several small churches. This was the beginning of what was to be his dual career path into his later years. Jake graduated with a BA Degree in English and the family returned to Port Rowan where he was a school principal from 1969 to 1978. During his tenure, he also completed his Bachelor’s of Education through the University of Toronto. In 1978, the family moved to Medicine Hat, AB where Jake took a position as the pastor at Crestwood Mennonite Brethren Church for four years before moving to Manitoba where he served as pastor to a number of congregations for several years. In 1995, Jake and Linda returned to Alberta and together, they served several years at Camp Evergreen in Sundre, AB. Eventually, they built a home in Seven Persons, AB and it was there that they spent their last years together. After Linda passed away on June 26, 2018, Jake, at 85 years, did his best to keep up the home and yard until 2021 when he moved to Chinook Village. Shortly thereafter, Jake suffered some medical setbacks and was then moved to Riverview Care Centre. His last days were spent in the care of their wonderful staff. Jacob was loved by and is survived by his three children, Mark (Debbie) Penner, Cathy (Walter) Friesen, and Lenore (Carl) Dyke; nine grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Marie Penner of Port Rowan, ON and Helen Goertzen of Saskatoon, SK; brother-in-law, Neil Patterson of Calgary, AB; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and their families. Jacob was predeceased by his wife of 58 years, Linda; his parents; and his siblings. The Funeral Service will be held at Crestwood Church, on Sunday, March 17th, 2024, at 3:30 pm with Pastor Evan Beasley officiating. If unable to attend, family and friends are welcome to participate via livestream by logging on to www.saamis.com and joining the live webcast on Jacob’s memorial page at the above date and time. A virtual guest book is available on the livestream page for those participating remotely. Condolences may be sent through www.saamis.com or to condolences@saamis.com subject heading Jacob Penner