DIETRICH NEUFELD

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DIETRICH NEUFELD Dietrich "Dick" Abram Neufeld passed away June 1, 2015 in Winnipeg. He was born in Orloff, Zagradovka Mennonite Settlement, Kherson Oblast, Ukraine on June 7, 1923. The Neufeld family immigrated to Canada from the Ukraine in 1926. They settled first in Wolseley, Saskatchewan. In the spring of 1930 they relocated to the Niverville area in the Mennonite East Reserve lands of south eastern Manitoba. There his father was employed on farms owned by the James Richardson Company. After finishing high school in Niverville (1940), Dietrich moved to Winnipeg to attend Success Business College where he also worked to pay his tuition (1940-43). He then took a job with Royal Transport. Four years later Dietrich joined the Manitoba Sugar Company as the agricultural accountant there, until his retirement in 1988, he used his position to get his sons the mixed blessings of summer work in beet fields and factory warehouse. In Winnipeg, Dietrich attended the Schoenwiese Mennonite church where he met, and slowly courted, Helen Albrecht. In the lively and warm companionship of the youthful Mennonite community they fell in love and married in August, 1949. Together, with Helen's mother Sarah, they raised four sons in a caring multi-generational household. Family life included holiday camping trips covering most of North America - Dad driving and Mum spinning stories, country cousins moving in for university studies, late summer trips to Boissevain to help with the harvest and Christmas at Oma and Opa's. Dad was a keen athlete. As a young man he played baseball and hockey. In Winnipeg he pitched for the Black Knights and, in winter he played in the commercial hockey league. Later he added golf, a lifelong member of Pine Ridge GC, and curling. Dad also coached. He enjoyed working with young people and teaching them team work and, above all, sportsmanship. In retirement Mum and Dad took to world travel, attending conferences, touring the South Seas and hockey tournaments in Sweden. Alas it ended too soon, Mum died in early 1994. Dad then met and charmed Nettie Penner. They married in May, 1995. With his sons scattered around the world, Dad happily took on the roles of husband and grandfather to his stepchildren's families. He and Nettie traveled widely, shared an interest in golf and their grandchildren. Dad was diligent in his love and care of Nettie as she slipped under the veil of Alzheimer's. After Nettie's death in 2010, Dad settled into the Lindenwoods community where his easy manner and ready smile made him many friends. Predeceased by his parents Abram and Katarina, brother Frank and sister Elizabeth, Dietrich is survived by sisters Katie Bock (John) and Charlotte Lepp (Con) and numerous children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends. His patience, steadfast love and strength of character will be greatly missed. Memorial service will be held on Monday, June 15, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at First Mennonite Church, 922 Notre Dame Avenue, Winnipeg. Ash interment to follow at Brookside Cemetery. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers can be sent to the Siloam Mission, Winnipeg. https://www.siloam.ca/donate/ FRIENDS FUNERAL SERVICE 204-339-5555

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jun 13, 2015