Great posting!

What a great idea, to post the picture of your family, Ruth! We look forward to meeting all of you next summer - and for Joanne's son, here is a good answer to the question about young people!
Our son Brandon is planning to come also - to meet the great Stoesz clan, and to see something of the West.
Talk to you soon,
Helen Stoesz

Hi all cousins, aunts and uncles, cousin nephews and nieces

Many of us have not seen each other for decades. In order to have some prior knowledge of who we have become I’m supplying a picture of me, Ruth (Heinrichs) Penner, and my family. My children do intend to come to the reunion.

The picture is of my family after a full day at Christmas. My three children are Ryan (35), Derek (32), and Natasha (30). The people on the picture from left to right are: Sheryl with Reese, Ryan with Noah, myself – Ruth, Paul and Natasha with Ryan’s daughter Kyra, and Sonya and Derek with Jackson and Kate. My families live in Winnipeg and are about 15 minutes from my house, which allows for us to see and help each other as we want to. I have moved to Winnipeg three years ago, where I have spent a good time doing renovations on the house and yard. Life in Winnipeg has opened opportunities to take part in the city’s cultural activities and making reconnections with old friends, make new ones, and be part of my children’s lives. It’s an enjoyable place to live.

A quick bio of my life:

• I’m Ruth, oldest of six children of Trudy and Andrew Heinrichs
• Grew up at New Hope, 5 miles west of Altona
• Went to school at Neu Hoffung for grade one to ten and at MCI for grades 11 and 12
• Loved to read, but somehow can’t find the time to do so in my adult life
  
• Took teacher training and taught in Altona for a year
• Married Henry Penner and lived in Portage la Prairie for 4 years, where Ryan was born
• Moved to Altona to farm
• Derek and Natasha born in Altona
• Built a complete new and beautiful farm yard just north of Altona Park
• Took part in my children’s lives as PTE member, skating club member, SS teacher
• Started working for School Division in 1985
• Thoroughly enjoyed watching all 3 of my kids being very involved in sports: baseball, volleyball, and basketball
• All 3 kids were away to university by age 18, but came home many summers, which made for a gradual weaning to the empty nest
• In 2001 I suddenly lost Henry
• Had farm auction sale in 2003
• Retired and moved to Winnipeg in winter of 2003
• Here I’ve spent time renovating my small house and small yard
• Am able to babysit the grandkids and see my kids lives
• I’ve been able to take part in concerts, dance lessons, spanish lessons, and drawing classes
• Try many of Winnipeg’s restaurants
• And making new friends, and so on