Abraham Dueck Penner (1910–2008) was a Canadian businessman and politician from Steinbach, Manitoba, who was instrumental in transforming and modernizing the lifestyle of the conservative Kleine Gemeinde Mennonites of the region.
Penner, who boasted that he had not spoken the traditional Mennonite dialect in decades, was flamboyant and aggressive in his lifestyle, political leadership and approach to business.
His buildings were "ultramodern" and his approach was aggressive, all things that clashed with the traditional lifestyle of the local Mennonites.
Whereas the traditional Mennonite lifestyle meant that Steinbach had had a primarily agricultural-based economy before this time, Penner coined the phrase "The Automobile City" and promoted Steinbach as a centre for the automobile trade in Manitoba, a reputation that still stands today.
"[8][page needed][9] Penner was a co-creator of the 18-hole Steinbach Fly-in Golf Course which was completed in 1970, with Premier Ed Schreyer presiding over the opening.