RODERICK BANNERMAN PENNYCOOK
December 2, 1928 – August 21, 2025
Rod Pennycook passed away peacefully with family at his side on August 21, 2025, at the age of 96.
Beloved husband for 71 years of the late Eileen Pennycook (nee Murphy) and father of Rod Pennycook (Francine), David Pennycook (Cathy), Kathleen Coe (Ken), Margaret Daniel (George), Moira Farrer (Ian) and Chris Pennycook (Linda). Rod was very proud of and took great joy in all his 11 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Rod is also survived by his sister Moira (90) and brother Bruce (93).
Born on December 2, 1928, in Winnipeg to Roderick and Agnes Pennycook (nee Stirling) who had recently emigrated from Scotland, Rod grew up in Winnipeg where he attended Victoria Albert elementary school, Hugh John McDonald Junior High and Daniel McIntrye Collegiate. He went on to the University of Manitoba where he graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) in 1950. He subsequently became a Fellow of the Canadian Institute of Actuaries and then earned the highly regarded designation of Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society.
Rod and Eileen met as teenagers at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in 1946, beginning a lifelong partnership. They were married on September 14, 1951, and lived in River Heights for the next 25 years before moving to Wellington Crescent and later to Westwood next to St Charles Country Club. In 2019, they moved to the Brightwater Senior Living of Tuxedo.
After graduation, Rod worked as a group statistician for Northwestern National Life in Minneapolis. He returned to Winnipeg in 1953 with the intention of becoming an officer in the navy but with the end of the Korean War, he instead joined Blue Cross where he rose to Associate Director. In 1957, when Manitoba joined the Federal/Provincial Government Hospital Plan, Premier Douglas Campbell appointed Rod as the Assistant Commissioner of the Manitoba Hospital Commission under Gordon Pickering. In this role, Rod was instrumental in establishing the provincial hospitalization plan and overseeing the orderly windup of Blue Cross. Through Pickering, Rod was introduced to the Grey Nuns, beginning a five-decade relationship that culminated in his service as a board member and Chairman of St Boniface Hospital for 15 years.
In 1961, Rod left the provincial government service and joined The Great-West Life Assurance Company where he held numerous leadership roles until retiring in 1991 as Executive Vice President responsible for technology, real estate and human resources.
Rod also played a significant role in the development of Canada’s insurance and health industries. He served as Chair of the Canadian Council of Blue Cross Plans and a member of the Winnipeg Actuaries Club, the Advisory Committee to the federal Minister of Health, the Canadian Life and Health Insurance Association and the International Life Office Management Association.
His commitment to the community was equally strong. He served on the boards of St. Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg Art Gallery, United Way Campaign and Rainbow Stage. He was a Cub and Scout leader, president of the Home and School Association and president of the South Beach Gimli Campers Association. In retirement, he remained active as the Chair of the Manitoba Telecom Pension Committee and a board member for Manitoba Public Insurance and Manitoba Data Services. Recreationally, he was a member of St. Charles Country Club, the Manitoba Club, the Granite Curling Club, the Winter Club and a variety of duplicate bridge clubs.
Rod and Eileen loved to travel. In retirement, they visited many countries in Europe, Asia and the South Pacific as well as golfing at top destinations across the UK and North America. Since the early 70s, Palm Springs was a cherished annual retreat and after retirement they always spent 6 months a year in the desert until 2019. Many special family events were celebrated in the desert such as the annual family Christmas golf game, dinner and auction, including one Christmas when 46 of the family came to Palm Springs.
Above all, Rod was devoted to his family. He was admired not only for his professional and community achievements but for his unwavering love, support and commitment to ensuring his family was given every opportunity to live life to the fullest.
While he will be deeply missed, family and friends will be comforted knowing Rod looked forward to being reunited with his beloved Eileen.
In keeping with his wishes, the family will have a private celebration of life.
The family extends its heartfelt appreciation for the exceptional care and compassion he received from his personal caregivers.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be directed to St. Boniface Hospital.
See more of Rod’s life here.
Bert de Roo passed away on February 22, 2018 at the age of 64. Bert was introduced to South Beach in the summer of 1976 because he fell in love with Evelyn Ward (6 Hansson Ave). He would joke that one of the main reasons he married her was because of her cottage.
