Funeral services for Fred Penner, Jr., 82, was held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 12, 2002 at the Mennonite Brethren Church. The Pastor Gary Janzen officiated. Burial followed in the Cedar Cemetery under the direction of the Fairview Funeral Home, Inc. Fred Penner, Jr. was born on January 11, 1920, during a severe snowstorm, one mile northeast of Isabella, Oklahoma, in the home of his parents Fred and Anna (Eck) Penner. He received his education in the Isabella Grade School, finishing the 7th grade. He then had to take over farming the family farm. However, he loved to read and continued to educate himself. In 1942, Fred entered the Civilian Public Service. He immensely enjoyed the time he spent serving his Lord and country in that manner. He was stationed in Dennison, Iowa and later was transferred to Three Rivers, California where he worked along side a park ranger in the Sequoia National Park. Fred enjoyed telling the retelling the many interesting experiences he had during those years of service. In the spring of April 1946, the war was finally over and Fred returned home ready to start a new life. On May 19th, 1946, he married Elizabeth Nichols of Fairview, Oklahoma in the Church of God in Christ Mennonite at Fairview, Oklahoma. Minister George Nichols officiated. They startedtheir life together on the same place Fred was born. He built a brand new five-room home just up on the hill west of the house he was born in. To this union one daughter, Lavada Marie; and one son, Fred Adam were born. Fred taught Sunday School and served as an usher in the church for many years. He served on the Isabella School Board for six years. He farmed and ran a dairy until 1972, when he retired from the dairy and helped his son-in-law get established taking over the dairy. On June 9th, 2002, he peacefully departed his life at the Okeene Hospital. His family will miss Fred's wonderful sense of humor, the light in his eyes and the smile on his face when he would see them coming. But they know he's waiting for them to join him in that Heavenly country. He leaves to mourn his departure, his beloved wife, Elizabeth; one daughter and her husband, Lavada and David Koehn of Fairview, Oklahoma; five grandchildren; two sisters, Francis Boehs of Montezuma, Kansas and Elsie Nightingale and her husband Harlan of Fairview, Oklahoma; one brother, John Penner and his wife Ida of Moundridge, Kansas; two brother-in-laws; and many nieces and nephews and friends. Those preceding him in death are his parents, son Fred Adam Penner, two brothers and four sisters. Memorials may be made through the funeral home to the Okeene Hospital or the Fairview Mennonite Brethren Church Missions. As printed in "the OKEENE RECORD", Thursday, June 13th, 2002, Okeene, Blaine County, Oklahoma, 73763, U.S.A.