View source for Penner, Heinrich D. (1862-1933)

Heinrich D. Penner (1862-1933), a Mennonite ([[General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM)|General Conference Mennonite]] (GCM) ) minister and teacher, was born at Schardau, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Colony]], South Russia, on 9 March 1862 (25 February O.S.). He was the ninth of eleven children of Daniel Penner (19 November 1824 – 27 January 1871) and Gertruda (Fast) Penner (1 July 1828 – 14 May 1878). On 29 April 1884, he married Katherina Dalke (10 August 1864, Steinfeld, [[Molotschna Mennonite Settlement (Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Molotschna Colony]], South Russia – 16 January 1944, [[Newton (Kansas, USA)|Newton]], [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]], USA) in Hillsboro, Kansas. She was the daughter of Cornelius Dalke (30 September 1831 – 15 February 1900) and Anna (Duerksen) Dalke (2 February 1837 – 22 March 1927). Heinrich and Katharina had 14 children: Rachel, Anna, Daniel, Christina, Clara, Ernst, Albert, Salomo, Linda, Ruth, Waldo, Hulda, Samuel and Verna (Salomo and Samuel died in infancy). He died on 26 October 1933 in [[Newton (Kansas, USA)|Newton]], Kansas.

In 1874 Heinrich came to America with his mother and stepfather, settling near [[Hillsboro (Kansas, USA)|Hillsboro]], [[Kansas (USA)|Kansas]]. In 1880 he was baptized by Jacob Buller, elder of the [[Alexanderwohl (Molotschna Mennonite Settlement, Zaporizhia Oblast, Ukraine)|Alexanderwohl]] Mennonite Church. He obtained a good education through private study and taught at the Rosenort (Lighthouse) school 1885-1889, at the elementary school at [[Lehigh (Kansas, USA)|Lehigh]] 1889-93, and at [[Bethel College (North Newton, Kansas, USA)|Bethel College]] 1893-1897.

On 27 July ____ Penner was ordained to the ministry by [[Hirschler, John S. (1847-1915)|Elder J. S. Hirschler]] for the [[First Mennonite Church (Hillsboro, Kansas, USA)|Hillsboro Mennonite]] (GCM) Church. In 1897 he organized the [[Hillsboro Preparatory School (Hillsboro, Kansas, USA)|Hillsboro Preparatory School]] and taught there until 1913. In 1913-1918 he taught church history and German at [[Bethel College (North Newton, Kansas, USA)|Bethel College]], and 1913-1930 he served as a teacher and spiritual adviser at the [[Bethel Deaconess Hospital (Newton, Kansas, USA)|Bethel Deaconess Hospital and Home]]. He then served as co-pastor of the Mennonite church at [[First Mennonite Church (Beatrice, Nebraska, USA)|Beatrice ]]1921-1926, and at the [[First Mennonite Church (Geary, Oklahoma, USA)|Geary (Oklahoma) Mennonite church]] 1926-1933.

Penner served on many committees concerned with schools, congregations, and the conference. He wrote the following booklets: <em>Kurze Andachten fuer die Schwestern und ihre Pflegebefohlenen im Bethel Diakonissenhospital</em>, Newton, Kansas (n.p.), pp. 118; <em>Kurzer Leitfaden für den Religionsunterricht in der Kinderlehre</em> (n.p.), pp. 32; <em>Leibes- und Seelenpflege bei Kranken</em> (Newton, 1916); <em>Our Christian Catechism, Confession and Covenant</em> (n.p.), pp. 7; <em>A Short Course of Study in the Rudiments of the Christian Religion for High School Students, Deaconess Probationers, Students in Nurse Training Schools and Lay Workers</em> (Beatrice, n.d.), pp. 42; <em>The Twofold Nature of the Kingdom</em> (Geary, 1932), pp. 16.
= Bibliography =
"Aeltester Heinrich Daniel Penner." Bundesbote Kalender (1935): 26.

H. D. Penner Collection, Mennonite Library and Archives (North Newton, Kansas, USA).

Wedel, P. J. <em>The Story of Bethel College</em>. North Newton: Bethel College, 1954.

<em>GRANDMA (The <strong>G</strong>enealogical <strong>R</strong>egistry <strong>a</strong>nd <strong>D</strong>atabase of <strong>M</strong>ennonite <strong>A</strong>ncestry) Database</em>, 4.19 ed. Fresno, CA: [http://calmenno.org/grandma/index.htm California Mennonite Historical Society], 2005.
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