From: Wiebe and Jeske Funeral Home

Wiebe and Jeske Funeral Home Staff send our condolences to family and friends.

From: Denise Renpenning

David Renpenning

David was born in Cuauhtémoc Chih. Mexico on May 25th, 1935, eldest of 2 children born to Eliesabeth Warkentin Renpenning and Johan (John) Renpenning both from Russia. David was fluent in German, Spanish and English, even though he spoke mostly English when he came to Canada if you asked him he would tell you he would think in Spanish.

Growing up in Cuauhtemoc David had several friends and family near and dear to him, Helmut Rothe was considered to be one of his closest friends, they would fight one minute to the point where they would have black eyes from each other, then by the time they got home they were best of friends again.

David’s family owned a corner store which they also lived at, David at the age of 14 would do store deliveries. David was known by family and friends to be very loving, yet still having a hot temper, he was also a quite person but when he had something to say people would listen, he was highly respected. He was good in studies and known to be very intelligent,

When David was 16 his parents decided to pack the family up and move to Canada. They sold all they had and loaded up their big red truck, if you remember the show the Hillbilly’s that is what their truck looked like, loaded with anything and everything that meant something to them.

It was a struggle for the family coming to a new country; the language bearer was a tough one for David. Even though his parents were struggling financially day to day they managed to enrol David into the MEI for his education, but the language bearer got the best of him and he left school after grade 10 and moved to Vancouver.

As it turned out his partner in crime, Helmut Rothe, his childhood best friend, had also relocated with his family to the Surrey area and they were reunited to cause havoc once again. Some would say David was truly a hard working man, Helmet and David worked for the Railway, sharing a small cabin and getting up early and working hard, but David lasted only a short time as he recalls the work was to hard. So he attended courses and
Got his welding certificate, he than studied some more and became a Certified technician.

David always had a thing for beautiful women, right up to his last days, but there was only one that took his heart, David met Lillian in 1959 through a roommate in the Valley, and that is where the new Chapter of his life began. David and Lillian were married February 1960, they had their first bundle of joy in that year David Abraham, followed by two more bundle of Joys Darwin John, and Denise Eliesabeth, They both worked hard to give everything they could to their family.

David was working as a Volkswagen mechanic when he and Lillian were living in Clearbrook. One day Lillian saw an ad for a Honda Motorcycle franchise, so she applied unbeknownst to David. The franchise had received 11 applications, yet chose David and Lillian because of David’s mechanical experience. They required finances as money was tight, but with the help of family, friends, neighbours and the bank 3-D Cycles Honda Ltd. was born, in Nov. 1970. Named after their 3 children, David, Darwin and Denise. The original Logo for 3D Cycles was created by David several months later as he was doodling one evening at his work bench, the Logo consist of 3 stickmen, 2 upright for David and Darwin and one down having a line to represent Denise, all inside a double circle.

For the follow 6 months David continued to work as a Volkswagen mechanic during the days and a motorcycle mechanic at night yet still finding the time and energy to be a husband and father. David had the love for fishing and outdoors. David wanted to try out a new Honda boat motor, so he loaded up the boat, fishing rods, motor and wife headed down to the Fraser River. He had a 12 lb fishing line in the river just to play around, but forgot the bait, so he put a marshmallow on the hook again just to play around, then all of a sudden the line pulled tight, he thought he had a snag, then the snag started moving, he handed the boat controls to Lil who had never manned a boat before and told her to head to shore, she beached the boat while he was still playing the fish, when he managed to see the size of the fish, he had her get out of the boat and told her to grab the fish by the gills and drag it in to shore, they managed to pull a 32 lb fish on to the shore with his 12 pound trout line, he had a smile like you could not imagine.

David made sure to always make time for his family no matter what, there was always motorbike trail rides, family holidays, movie nights and family meals every night. He always had a dream to see Australia, but was happy with the travels he had, Cruising, Hawaii, Barbados, Mexico and many more.

David’s life was all about his family, he gave all he could, he would give the shirt off his back if needed and then tragedy hit 1987, the loss of his first born, David, so many families break apart when there is a loss of a child, yet David’s and Lillian’s hard work kept it together, it was a devastating time for David and his family, he would have gladly taken his place if it was a choice.

David’s children started having children which brighten up his life once again, his grandchildren, Byron, Shawn, Jeremy, Natasha, Dylan and Caden. Some days he would complain about all the noise and chaos with the grandkids running around, but secretly he enjoyed it. He was close to each and every one of them, even if he was the Grandpa bank sometimes. David and Lillian always tried to make a life for their children and grandchildren better than what they had, even to the point one could say they were spoiled rotten. David was proud of the family he had and you could see the smile grow as he would talk about them.

2015 Tragedy slammed the family yet again at the loss of his grandson Shawn, no one should have to out live their children let alone their grandchild.

David has spent a large part of his life in pain, yet he was able to take one day at a time and enjoy what he could. The past few years David’s health was going down hill rapidly, many times you could hear him say he was ready to go to heaven, David was in and out of Hospital for most of this year and he knew his time was coming to an end, David passed away peacefully on the 24th of September with family at his side.

From: Edmund and Donna Kill
Relation: Personal and business

Heavy heart felt loss for Lilly and family.

From: Carol D. Schmidt
Relation: Family friends from years gone by

I was saddened to hear of the passing of Mr. Renpenning. Our families growing up near each other for several years is something memorable. May the peace of God be with you all at this time and forward. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.

From: Lisa Craig nee Redekop
Relation: Uncle, Cousin of my father David Redekop

Auntie Lil, Darwin & Denise and family, we would like to express our condolences at the passing of Uncle David, his presence will always be felt in your hearts. My father would also like to send you his thoughts and prayers at this time.

From: Debbie Bovair
Relation: was davids daughter denise's friend

my deepest condolence’s to the Renpenning family and my friend Denise who I have not seen in years sorry for your loss. May Mr. Renpenning R.I.P he was a good hearted man and I loved the motor cycle shop. Lillian its been a long time since I saw you as well may God give you peace during this time of sadness. Respect to you all Debbie