Ken Pentney, 68

Ken Pentney of Morson, Ont. died at 9 am on July 23, 2011 in St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg.
He was born on July 28, 1942 in the Rainy River Hospital, the fifth child of Katie and Ernie Pentney.
At the age of 2 yrs he was badly burned at his home along the Rainy River. He was taken to the hospital in Winnipeg where he spent a year undergoing skin grafts and treatment for his burns. The doctors told his mother that the only reason he survived was the little woolen vest which kept the fire from burning his chest and back.
He attended school in Rainy River and at the age of 17 he joined the Air Force as a fireman in the Search and Rescue Division. Part of his job was to don protective gear and walk into burning fires.
Most of his working life was spent on Lake of the Woods. He worked as a guide, a boat captain, and a commercial fisherman.
It was in 1972 while working at Buena Vista Resort on Ed Munson’s houseboat that Ken met Laurie Goodman. They were married in 1973. Daughter Allison was born in 1975, and Becky in 1977.
Ken was always involved in community activities, whether it was cooking the fish for the Women’s Institute Fish Fry, or helping with whatever else was going on. He served as a councillor and Reeve of Lake of the Woods, and he was a volunteer fire fighter and Fire Chief.
He often stood in the middle of the bush on his land, looked at the rocks and trees and envisioned a golf course where no one else could and in four short years, he and wife Laurie created Spruce Creek Golf Course – an accomplishment he was most proud of.
Ken is survived by his wife Laurie, daughters Allison Pollard (James), Becky, grandchildren Madeline, Jacob and Mackinley, as well as his sister Ruth Brett (Fred), brother Leland, sister Karen Sepers (Tony), sisters-in-law Jeanette Pentney and Terril Pentney.
He was predeceased by his parents, sister Carol Berman, brother Don and brother Buddy.
Nothing brought Ken more joy than being with his grandchildren. He loved to take Maddy fishing or watch her sing “Livin’ in a Shoe” or “Hit the Road Jack”.
He was able to take 17-month-old Mac and Jacob on their first boat ride the day before he entered the hospital for his last cancer battle.
Funeral service will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bergland on Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 1 p.m. Interment at the Morson Cemetery in Minahico following the service and lunch at the Bergland Hall. Honourary pallbearers will be Dan Anderson, Don Anderson, Larry Budreau, Kim McKenzie, Chris Stone and Ed Tetu. Service conducted by lay-leader Carolyn Kreger.
In memoriam donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society Rainy River District branch, or to the fund for Rainy River House, c/o Northridge Funeral Home, Box 89, Emo, Ontario, P0W 1E0.
Online condolences may be offered at www.northridgefuneralhome.com