A.D. Penner

Abraham Dueck Penner (September 3, 1910 – March 7, 2008) was a businessman and politician from Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada, who was instrumental in transforming and modernizing the lifestyle of the conservative Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites of the region.[1] [2]

Abraham Dueck Penner
Born(1910-09-03)September 3, 1910
Hanover, Manitoba, Canada
DiedMarch 7, 2008(2008-03-07) (aged 97)
Steinbach, Manitoba, Canada
NationalityCanadian
OccupationOwner of car dealership
Known forBusinessman and politician

Penner was born on a farm just outside of Steinbach to a Russian Mennonite family in 1910 and established Steinbach's first Dodge dealership in 1937.[3][4] While serving on Steinbach city council from 1947–1957, he helped establish Steinbach as a town separate from the Rural Municipality of Hanover.[5]

Most significantly, however, was his cultural impact on the Mennonite community, leading to the assimilation of the Mennonites in southern Manitoba into mainstream society.[6][7] Prior to Penner, Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites were reserved, spoke Plautdietsch, were primarily agrarian, and eschewed flashiness and consumerist consumption. Penner, who boasted that he had not spoken the traditional Mennonite dialect in decades, was flamboyant and aggressive in his lifestyle, political leadership and approach to business. During the 1950s, he "created a new helm for businessmen" of the region that was not based on agriculture. His buildings were "ultramodern" and his approach was aggressive, all things that clashed with the traditional lifestyle of the local Mennonites. In 1960 Penner tore down the last historic housebarn in Steinbach, an act of destruction that spurred on concerned locals to create the Mennonite Heritage Village in order preserve the area's remaining historic buildings. Whereas the traditional Mennonite lifestyle meant that Steinbach had had a primarily agricultural-based economy before this time, Penner coined the phrase "The Automobile City" and promoted Steinbach as a center for the automobile trade in Manitoba, a reputation that still stands today. By 1960, Carillon News observed that "things aren't as simple as they used to be in this peaceful Mennonite darp." [8][9] Penner was a co-creater of the 18 hole Steinbach Fly-in Golf Course which was completed in 1970, with Premier Ed Schreyer presiding over the opening.[10]

Penner was mayor of Steinbach from 1971 to 1980. A large park in his name was established in south Steinbach. Steinbach's "Abe's Hill" is also named in his honour and is a popular tobogganing site in winter located in L.A. Barkman Kinsmen Park on the west side of Steinbach.[11]

References
  1. Royden Loewen (2006). Diasapora in the Countryside: Two Mennonite Communities and Mid-Twentieth Century Rural Disjuncuture. University of Toronto Press.
  2. "Memorable Manitobans: Abraham Dueck Penner (1910-2008)". Manitoba Historical Society. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  3. Myron Love (December 15, 2017). "Birchwood acquires Steinbach Dodge Chrysler". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  4. "Tribute to A.D. Penner". steinbachonline.com. Retrieved September 28, 2017.
  5. Warkentin, Abe (1971). Reflections on Our Heritage. Derksen Printers.
  6. P. Travis Kroeker (2017). Messianic Political Theology and Diaspora Ethics. Cascade Books.
  7. T.D. Regehr (1974). Mennonites in Canada:1939-1970: a people transformed. University of Toronto Press.
  8. Friesen, Ralph (September 2009). Between Earth and Sky: Steinbach, The First 50 Years. Derksen Printers.
  9. "Steinbach Main Street - Part Four" (PDF). Preservings. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  10. "Steinbach aces it: Town's friendly Fly-In Golf Club a course with a colourful past". Winnipeg Free Press. May 17, 2014. Retrieved January 31, 2020.
  11. "L.A. Barkman Kinsmen Park". City of Steinbach. Retrieved February 21, 2020.


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