To his hundreds of students over his 38 years at Red Bluff High School and many years at Shasta College, he was Mr. Penner. He was a beloved teacher, helper, and inspirer of his students and colleagues. Having come to teach at Red Bluff High School in 1963 at the age of 23, he made it his personal challenge, each year, to memorize student names the first day of class, which meant memorizing about 150 names and faces each semester. Sometimes he would encourage them to scramble and prove to them that he really did know their names. Their progress in his classes, and as good citizens and fellow human beings, was a joy to him. For a short while, he was "Coach," for the JV football teams and was the long-time "Scorekeeper" for the girls volleyball teams.

For many years he was "the beekeeper" to numerous local ranchers. He placed bee colonies for pollination in Tehama and Butte counties and as far as the melon fields near Dunnigan. He packaged and sold queen bees to beekeepers in cooler climes like Porcupine Plains, Saskatchewan and Mandan, South Dakota. He was a great admirer of the work bees do for us and enjoyed sharing his knowledge and stories to classrooms of elementary students and large and small groups of adults. He made demonstration hives so kids could see the queen and her attendants going about their daily chores.

To his many friends, he was just Cliff: someone to call on at the drop of a hat; someone to be there in a crisis or to move a refrigerator or a whole houseful of furniture. His bee truck often doubled as a moving van. He was always looking for ways to solve problems and help make lives better. His life verse was Colosians 3:23. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men." That is how he lived his life.

Cliff was an involved member of Grace Community Fellowship (formerly Community Baptist Church) for 60 years. Until illness slowed him down, he was always there when the doors were open and even when they weren't. He directed the choir there for about 20 years, taught the Youth Sunday School Class, and was a Deacon and Elder. For 15 years, he led Sunday Night Youth Group meetings and held 5th Quarters at his home after football games for as many as 70 kids, so that they would have a safe place to celebrate victories, grumble over defeats, and have fun doing it. He was the fearless leader for many summer adventures into the mountains or at the shore for sometimes 50 or more high-schoolers. Many kids became part of his family when they needed a safe place to be and a strong shoulder to cry on.

To his parents, Harvey and Anna Penner (deceased), and to his siblings, Roger, Linda, and Debi, he was "Clifford" or big or little "Brother" as the case may be: a peacemaker, a kind and generous son and brother. To his 13 grandchildren and their spouses and his 4 great-grandchildren, he was and is "Poppy," the one who could build anything, find anything, and fix anything. To his children, Kevin and wife, Diane; Rebecca and husband George Gutierrez; Bonnie and husband Robert Stitt; and Daniel and wife, Jennifer, he is Dad (and sometimes, Pop): a giver of advice, but only when asked for it; a wise listener; a trusted helper in any situation.

To his wife, Beverlee, of 62 years, he was Honey or Sweetheart–just about her everything on this earth. Together they built a beautiful home and an even more beautiful family; traveled much of the world; and took 2 trips across the United States in their 5th Wheel trailer. How he wished they had been able to do that while he was still teaching U. S. History! And finally, to the Lord God Almighty, he is "Good and Faithful Servant," who entered the presence of His Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ, on the night of January 16, 2024. His family would like to invite his friends to celebrate his life with them on Saturday, February 17th, at 1:00p.m., at Grace Community Fellowship, 598 Roundup Avenue, Red Bluff, CA 96080