Steinbach businessman Ernie Penner is being fondly remembered as a leader and mentor. Penner passed away Wednesday after a lengthy illness. He founded Penner Building Centre and Penn-Co Construction and did business on an international scale.

Gerry Thiessen, vice-president of Penner Building Centre, says Penner gave him the opportunity of a lifetime 45 years ago by hiring him. Thiessen says Penner had a great business knowledge and the drive to succeed.

"He started off with a small business in Blumenort and that's where I started from. We had a store of about 2,000 square feet and from there we moved to the Clearspring Shopping centre where we had a store of about 40,000 square feet to where we are today with a store of over 120,000 square feet. That was all Ernie's vision, his doing. He also started and owned Penn-Co Construction which, today, he doesn't anymore. But he started that company too and they had offices all over the country and in Minneapolis."

Provencher Member of Parliament Ted Falk, who is also president of Diamond Construction and Gravel, appreciates the mentoring that Penner did.

"He was always very willing to share business advice, very willing to provide you counsel, even if there was no gain for himself. If there was something, as a young businessman, I had questions about, I felt comfortable asking Ernie for direction and advice. He had a passion for business and he had a passion to see people develop in their business and in their careers."

Falk adds that Penner's legacy extends well beyond Steinbach.

"He did a lot of work on First Nations reservations and projects. There are a lot of hospitals, community centres and schools that were built by companies owned by Ernie Penner and I just think of what a tremendous amount of infrastructure Ernie Penner was responsible for, not only in our community, but actually internationally, globally. He was involved in a lot of different projects."

Falk says Penner was also very willing to partner with people including a partnership with the late Jim Penner to build the Clearspring Shopping Centre and, at one time, he and his brother Abe G. Penner owned 50% of Diamond Construction and Gravel.

Thiessen says it has been a joy to learn from Ernie Penner over the years and reflects on the biggest point that he made about being in business.

"Your operation is built on honesty and integrity. It's not all about money."

Thiessen says he will also miss Penner's leadership and ability to see what is needed in the future.

E.G. Penner received many awards over his lifetime and also held past directorships with the Bank of Canada, Loewen Group Inc., University of Winnipeg and others.

The funeral service will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at the Emmanuel Evangelical Free Church.