John Neufeld Winnipeg, Manitoba Obituary

John Neufeld

John H. Neufeld November 12, 1933 to January 11, 2021 John H. Neufeld was born in Winnipeg on November 12, 1933. His parents were Herman and Sara (Bartel) Neufeld. His early childhood was spent in the Headingley and Springstein areas. At the end of 1944 the Neufeld family moved to the Fraser Valley, first to Greendale and then to Aldergrove. John was baptized on confession of his faith in 1952 and became a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church, Langley, B.C. He was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1960 prior to going to South America for a term of service. His education included graduation from the Mennonite Educational Institute in 1953 and a B.Ch.Ed. from Canadian Mennonite Bible College in 1956. He received an elementary teaching certificate from the College of Education at UBC in 1957. He graduated with a B.A. from Western Washington State College in 1963. Further studies led to his receiving the M.Div. degree from Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1966 and a D.Min from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1982. During his studies at CMBC he met Anne Hiebert from Waldheim, SK. They were married in 1955. This marriage was blessed with four children, Donna, Kenneth, Karen and Brenda, eleven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, four step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren. His work experience included a variety of summer jobs – in a two-man sawmill, in the peat bogs, at a fish cannery, and truck driving. During several summers he was director of the summer camping program at Camp Squeah, B.C. He taught elementary school in Surrey, B.C. for two years; this was followed by seven years of teaching at Bethel Bible Institute in Abbotsford, B.C. and at the Seminario Biblico Mennonita in Montevideo, Uruguay. He served as pastor of First Mennonite Church in Winnipeg from 1969 - 1984 and as President and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Canadian Mennonite Bible College (now CMU) from 1984-1997. Over the course of his career John focused on a number of topics that were relevant for the times. Some of these were: family life (sexuality, divorce and remarriage); a biblical understanding of conversion; leadership issues and stewardship; the book of Revelation. He also contributed a number of radio meditations for the Faith and Life program and for the German program, Frohe Botschaft annually for over 25 years. A collection of his sermons, The Story that Shapes Us, was published on the occasion of his retirement in 1997. In addition to two longer periods of service in the Mennonite settlements of Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil, Anne and he also visited Argentina, Peru, Chile and Bolivia. In 1984 they spent three weeks in the former Soviet Union. Some time was also spent in Germany in connection with the Strasbourg Mennonite World Conference. In 1993 they returned to Europe a second time, visiting relatives and sightseeing in Germany, Holland, France and Switzerland. They have also made winter trips to Mexico, Hawaii as well as to the southern USA. Since his retirement he has continued accepting teaching and preaching invitations, including courses on Preaching at Canadian Mennonite University, as well as co-teaching the Preaching Institute in Manitoba for AMBS. He also taught Pastoral Theology Issues courses for pastors’ groups both in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Towards the end of 1997 John was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent a number of rounds of chemotherapy until December 2007. He very much appreciated the support of his wife and family as well as the concern and support of many members of the church and the larger community, including excellent medical care. In 2015 John suffered two blackouts which resulted in his receiving a pace maker as well as beta blockers for his heart. He was told that his heart had suffered delayed damage from the chemotherapy he had received earlier. As a result of having to deal with serious health crises he was invited to speak on subjects relating to suffering and its relationship to the Christian faith. The topics were broadened into a series of presentations entitled, Say Yes to the Calendar: Aging and Mortality. Beginning in the fall of 2005 Anne took part in giving these presentations – in several congregations in Manitoba (1999 – 2005) as well as in B.C. and in Saskatchewan (2006). In 2007 and 2008 they spoke together on the topic, Do you understand what you are reading when you read the Bible? He also revised and expanded his previous study of the book of Revelation and gave presentations on it in a variety of settings. Further work on responsible Bible reading led to presentations on Reading the Bible with Interpretation. Most recently he has also worked on the topic of Forgiveness (person to person) and Forbearance. He led sessions with seniors’ groups and also taught in CMU’s Xplore Sessions for seniors in recent years. He also spoke at Concordia Hospital’s Spiritual Care Conference in 2015 on the topic, Exploring the Archives of the Heart. In 2015 he also gave a presentation at a study conference for Mennonite Church Manitoba on the topic, Being the Church: Garden, Body and Table. His faith and understanding was always a work in progress. He found that many others were also engaged in this demanding process in their retirement years. He was predeceased by his brother Willi in infancy; parents Herman and Sarah Neufeld; brothers-in-law, John Warkentin and Jake Bergen, sister Hilda; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth, Marianne, Irene and Sarah; brothers-in-law, George, John and Bruno and Ed, niece Gena, nephew Daniel; great nephews, Ryan, Steven and Levi. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Anne, children: Donna (Jordan), Ken (Sharon), Karen (Darren), Brenda (David); grandchildren: Charles (Laura), Lisa, Jade (Erik), Brianne (Kelly), Kyle (Megan), Avery, Jackie, Nicole (Morgan), William, Simon (Natalie), Zachary (Natasha) and Luther (Kerys); great-grandchildren: Luke, Elody, Levi, Kinley, Isla, Max, Addie, Owen and Georgia; step-grandchildren: Natalie (David), Sean, Stephanie, and Dylan; and step-great-grandchildren: Carter, Ava, Elena and Sofia. He also leaves to mourn his passing: his sister Margaret and brother Henry (Tena), and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Abe (Anne), Lena, Mary (Frank), and Henry (Betty), on Anne’s side, as well as many nieces and nephews and many friends. The private family service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2021, with live streaming service available at www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/10006 Interment at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Cemetery In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to CMU or MCC. Addendum The hymn “Nothing is Lost on the breath of God, (Sing the Story) HWB 48 All creatures of our God and king, Verses 4 & 5 “And all ye folk of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part, alleluia Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on him cast your care. And thou, most kind and gentle death, waiting to hush our latest breath Thou leadest home the child of God and Christ our Lord the way hath trod. O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia.
November 12, 1933 - January 11, 202111/12/193301/11/2021
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John H. Neufeld November 12, 1933 to January 11, 2021 John H. Neufeld was born in Winnipeg on November 12, 1933. His parents were Herman and Sara (Bartel) Neufeld. His early childhood was spent in the Headingley and Springstein areas. At the end of 1944 the Neufeld family moved to the Fraser Valley, first to Greendale and then to Aldergrove. John was baptized on confession of his faith in 1952 and became a member of the Bethel Mennonite Church, Langley, B.C. He was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1960 prior to going to South America for a term of service. His education included graduation from the Mennonite Educational Institute in 1953 and a B.Ch.Ed. from Canadian Mennonite Bible College in 1956. He received an elementary teaching certificate from the College of Education at UBC in 1957. He graduated with a B.A. from Western Washington State College in 1963. Further studies led to his receiving the M.Div. degree from Mennonite Biblical Seminary in 1966 and a D.Min from Bethany Theological Seminary in 1982. During his studies at CMBC he met Anne Hiebert from Waldheim, SK. They were married in 1955. This marriage was blessed with four children, Donna, Kenneth, Karen and Brenda, eleven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, four step grandchildren and four step great grandchildren. His work experience included a variety of summer jobs – in a two-man sawmill, in the peat bogs, at a fish cannery, and truck driving. During several summers he was director of the summer camping program at Camp Squeah, B.C. He taught elementary school in Surrey, B.C. for two years; this was followed by seven years of teaching at Bethel Bible Institute in Abbotsford, B.C. and at the Seminario Biblico Mennonita in Montevideo, Uruguay. He served as pastor of First Mennonite Church in Winnipeg from 1969 - 1984 and as President and Associate Professor of Practical Theology at Canadian Mennonite Bible College (now CMU) from 1984-1997. Over the course of his career John focused on a number of topics that were relevant for the times. Some of these were: family life (sexuality, divorce and remarriage); a biblical understanding of conversion; leadership issues and stewardship; the book of Revelation. He also contributed a number of radio meditations for the Faith and Life program and for the German program, Frohe Botschaft annually for over 25 years. A collection of his sermons, The Story that Shapes Us, was published on the occasion of his retirement in 1997. In addition to two longer periods of service in the Mennonite settlements of Uruguay, Paraguay and Brazil, Anne and he also visited Argentina, Peru, Chile and Bolivia. In 1984 they spent three weeks in the former Soviet Union. Some time was also spent in Germany in connection with the Strasbourg Mennonite World Conference. In 1993 they returned to Europe a second time, visiting relatives and sightseeing in Germany, Holland, France and Switzerland. They have also made winter trips to Mexico, Hawaii as well as to the southern USA. Since his retirement he has continued accepting teaching and preaching invitations, including courses on Preaching at Canadian Mennonite University, as well as co-teaching the Preaching Institute in Manitoba for AMBS. He also taught Pastoral Theology Issues courses for pastors’ groups both in Alberta and Saskatchewan. Towards the end of 1997 John was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and underwent a number of rounds of chemotherapy until December 2007. He very much appreciated the support of his wife and family as well as the concern and support of many members of the church and the larger community, including excellent medical care. In 2015 John suffered two blackouts which resulted in his receiving a pace maker as well as beta blockers for his heart. He was told that his heart had suffered delayed damage from the chemotherapy he had received earlier. As a result of having to deal with serious health crises he was invited to speak on subjects relating to suffering and its relationship to the Christian faith. The topics were broadened into a series of presentations entitled, Say Yes to the Calendar: Aging and Mortality. Beginning in the fall of 2005 Anne took part in giving these presentations – in several congregations in Manitoba (1999 – 2005) as well as in B.C. and in Saskatchewan (2006). In 2007 and 2008 they spoke together on the topic, Do you understand what you are reading when you read the Bible? He also revised and expanded his previous study of the book of Revelation and gave presentations on it in a variety of settings. Further work on responsible Bible reading led to presentations on Reading the Bible with Interpretation. Most recently he has also worked on the topic of Forgiveness (person to person) and Forbearance. He led sessions with seniors’ groups and also taught in CMU’s Xplore Sessions for seniors in recent years. He also spoke at Concordia Hospital’s Spiritual Care Conference in 2015 on the topic, Exploring the Archives of the Heart. In 2015 he also gave a presentation at a study conference for Mennonite Church Manitoba on the topic, Being the Church: Garden, Body and Table. His faith and understanding was always a work in progress. He found that many others were also engaged in this demanding process in their retirement years. He was predeceased by his brother Willi in infancy; parents Herman and Sarah Neufeld; brothers-in-law, John Warkentin and Jake Bergen, sister Hilda; sisters-in-law, Elizabeth, Marianne, Irene and Sarah; brothers-in-law, George, John and Bruno and Ed, niece Gena, nephew Daniel; great nephews, Ryan, Steven and Levi. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Anne, children: Donna (Jordan), Ken (Sharon), Karen (Darren), Brenda (David); grandchildren: Charles (Laura), Lisa, Jade (Erik), Brianne (Kelly), Kyle (Megan), Avery, Jackie, Nicole (Morgan), William, Simon (Natalie), Zachary (Natasha) and Luther (Kerys); great-grandchildren: Luke, Elody, Levi, Kinley, Isla, Max, Addie, Owen and Georgia; step-grandchildren: Natalie (David), Sean, Stephanie, and Dylan; and step-great-grandchildren: Carter, Ava, Elena and Sofia. He also leaves to mourn his passing: his sister Margaret and brother Henry (Tena), and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Abe (Anne), Lena, Mary (Frank), and Henry (Betty), on Anne’s side, as well as many nieces and nephews and many friends. The private family service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 23, 2021, with live streaming service available at www.livememorialservices.com/Home/ServiceDetail/10006 Interment at St. Paul’s Anglican Church Cemetery In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to CMU or MCC. Addendum The hymn “Nothing is Lost on the breath of God, (Sing the Story) HWB 48 All creatures of our God and king, Verses 4 & 5 “And all ye folk of tender heart, forgiving others, take your part, alleluia Ye who long pain and sorrow bear, praise God and on him cast your care. And thou, most kind and gentle death, waiting to hush our latest breath Thou leadest home the child of God and Christ our Lord the way hath trod. O sing ye, alleluia, alleluia.

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Jan
23
Service
Saturday, January 23 2021
01:00 PM
Friends Funeral Service
2146 Main Street
Winnipeg, MB R2V 3S5
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