Our family mourn the passing of Ted Renpenning, who is survived by his wife Pauline, their two sons Robert and John, grandchildren Cody and Josi. Ted, the youngest of four siblings, was born quietly into this world May 9, 1940, in a one room country farmhouse near the remote village of McMahon, SK. As a child, Ted housed an independent spirit about a mile wide. His eyes held a mercurial gleam; a little wild, a little irreverent; nobody’s fool. He was the guy who could burn his schoolhouse down. Inherent in his gaze resided the defiant confident pride of the self-made man. When Ted met Pauline he found his North Star. Throughout their 53 years together he abided her beauty, her spirit and her mystery. Growing up, our family home was one filled with friends and music, a warm candle-glow; a laughter in the halls. It was here the life of the spirit was affirmed. A little detail from this era: in our living room rested a tiny statue of Bacchus, the God of Wine, bearded and naked astride a giant tortoise. Well, of course, everyone knew that was Ted. Ted always found a way to put family first. He was our Brigadier General who traversed many battles and fought in many wars. His was the wisdom that knew triumph and disaster were both impostors; you had to treat each one as an opportunity, not as an end in itself. In our family, especially in the later years, Ted was our friend, as well as husband and father. He was a little bemused and curious about all of us. Truly, for us, Ted is one of the Eternals, who lived his credo: "To thine own self be true" Ted left this world in the wee small hours of the morning on January 20, 2016, quietly, and on his own terms.