Harvey Pepneck
1959 - 2026
Harvey Ralph Pepneck, beloved husband of Kathy Pepneck, passed away in Lethbridge on Sunday, April 26, 2026 at the age of 67 years.
Besides his loving wife Kathy, Harvey is survived by their son Daniel, his wife May and their son Theodore. He is also survived by his siblings Helga (Dean) Joyce, Peter (Glenna) Pepneck, Lily (George) Simpson, Richard (Joanne) Pepneck and Heidi (Ken) Froese; numerous nieces and nephews, many great nieces and nephews and by his godson Benjamin Dodson.
He was predeceased by his parents Peter in 2014 and Sonja in 2013.
Harvey (or Harv as he was known to many), was born January 18, 1959, the fifth child in Peter and Sonja Pepneck’s family. He grew up on the family farm in Vauxhall. At about six, he made a decision to accept Jesus as his personal Saviour. In his lifetime he never wavered from that decision, freely expressing his love for his Lord Jesus. At sixteen, he was baptized, joining the Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church. His relationship with God and his life experiences taught him contentment and compassion.
Harv graduated from Vauxhall High School, attended Lethbridge College and Winkler Bible School. At Winkler he met his beloved partner, Kathy Buhler of Boissevain, Manitoba. During the two years they dated, he worked in Winnipeg, but city life convinced him he was a farmer. On March 27, 1982, Harv and Kathy were married and together, they started farming in Vauxhall. The birth of their son Daniel brought great joy. Daniel has always been Harv’s pride and Daniel and May’s son Theo, was the apple of Papa’s eye.
Harvey collected people. Any and all people, people anywhere and everywhere. If you were within speaking range, you were a friend. A cup of coffee and the relationship flowed. In recent years, hours were also spent on the phone, checking in with friends around the world. Plus he loved emails which he described as “kinda like watching the mailbox for the Princess Auto catalogue – full of surprises and treasures to be pondered”. Just as there were no real strangers, all problems had solutions.He could physically create, adapt, manipulate or repair almost anything, especially if he had vice grips. Princess Auto helped but Harvey was gifted in mechanical understanding, fixing almost impossible problems and sharing his know how and skill. He generously left expertise, equipment and tooling in many places for others to use and to continue the work. He did not trust words without action but also believed action needed words. He taught Sunday School, cared for people in his church family and community, volunteered with Kathy at Lethbridge Streets Alive and did numerous service trips overseas. He loved travel but always with purpose. Harvey’s life always revolved around water and his service trips developed a passion within him to provide clean water to everyone. Recently when he joined the Lifewater Canada board, he observed, “God has been faithful in the past and allowed me to play in His workshop in places I never dreamed of, doing stuff I would never have imagined. I guess another God adventure begins.” And now, another God adventure has begun for Harvey.
A private burial service was held at the Vauxhall Mennonite Cemetery prior to the funeral service on Monday, May 4, 2026.
The Funeral Service was held at the Vauxhall Community Church (formerly the Vauxhall Mennonite Brethren Church), 320 - 9 Street North, Vauxhall on Monday, May 4, 2026 at 2:00 P.M.
To view a recording of the service, click on the 'livestream link' on this page.
If friends so desire, memorial tributes in Harvey’s name may be made directly to Lifewater Canada, 457 Heather Crescent Thunder Bay, Ontario P7E 5L1 www.lifewater.ca.