August 23, 1931 – January 15, 2022
“Nur einmal machst du diese Reise, lass eine gute Spur zurueck”
Diedrich (Dick) Neufeld passed away at the age of 90 years on January 15, 2022 in the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario.
He was born on August 23, 1931 on his family’s farm east of Carstairs, Alberta. He was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Anna Neufeld (Penner).
Dick is survived by his wife, Anna Neufeld (Neufeld), his son Kenneth David and daughter-in-law Cheryl Anne Frankiewicz, son Philip Albert and daughter-in-law Leslie Ann Buckland, daughter Karen Anne, daughter Lynnette Marie and son-in-law Ricardo Rodriguez, his six grandchildren, Hannah Lynn, Allijah Taylor, Kate Sara, Nicole Sofia, Andrew Mark Roy Solo, Dylan Alejandro, and his great-granddaughter Kaliya Jade.
Dick is also survived by his brother Herman and sister-in-law Lola, sister Alma and brother-in-law Abe Hildebrandt, brother Eldon and sister-in-law Carol, brother Gordon, and many nieces and nephews.
Diedrich lived with dementia for more than twenty-five years. This caused him a lot of anguish, as he progressively lost memories and the ability to engage in so many of the activities and relationships that had been meaningful for him. In these last couple of years during Covid, lockdowns and restrictions forced further isolation for him. His family treasured those moments of connection when we could still share a laugh or smile, play a game of crokinole or catch, sing together or look at photos and talk about family with him. In the last few months, Dick said that he wished to be addressed as Diedrich though he had used Dick for most of his life. He had often joked in the past that he hoped the prophecy in his name (Died Rich) would come true. The prophecy certainly did in terms of family, friends and rich experiences.
Diedrich met his wife, Anna, in Winnipeg while attending the Canadian Mennonite Bible College. They were married in 1955, and thus began a rich journey together, with many moves and many careers. A theme in all of Diedrich and Anna’s life together was that of community, and service to others. He taught public school in several communities in Alberta, and Bible School in the Bergthal area in his early career. In 1968 the family packed up and moved to Sudbury, Ontario. There, together with the Mennonite Mission and Service Board, Diedrich founded and directed Rockhaven, a home for recovering alcoholics, which is still in operation over 40 years later. His next step involved a career in public housing with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation. This position led to more moves for the family, to Windsor, Ontario and finally to Calgary, Alberta in 1981. In 1985, Diedrich and Anna began a posting with the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in Kingston, Jamaica. They served there for 6 years, helping to support small businesses. Upon their return to Calgary in 1991, Dick assumed the role of Director of MCC Alberta, retiring in 1996.
In his leisure time Diedrich enjoyed volunteering with the Mennonite Historical Society, as well as generously sharing his knowledge and skills as a “handyman” with family, friends and his church community at Calgary Inter-mennonite. Diedrich loved the out-of-doors, and enjoyed many hikes, skiing, bicycle rides, and canoe trips. He loved playing softball, curling and watching his favourite team, the Blue Jays. He and Anna shared a love of gardening, and throughout their lives together, their homes were surrounded by beautiful landscaping and abundant vegetable gardens. Music was a very important part of Diedrich’s life, as a listener and a singer. He and Anna sang together in their early years, and later in life, he enjoyed several seasons singing with the Corpus Christi Male Chorus in Calgary. In his last months with dementia, he retained his beautiful bass voice, joining occasionally on favourite familiar songs when others sang with him.
Due to the current Covid situation, a memorial service will be held online at a future date. Information will be shared as plans are finalized. In lieu of flowers, if you so choose, a donation to the Mennonite Central Committee or to the Mennonite Economic Development Associates in Diedrich’s name would be welcome.
Memorial Service
Diedrich Neufeld Memorial