NEUFELDT, Peter
July 25, 1936 – February 27, 2016
Born on 25 July 1936 in Coaldale, Alberta, Peter J. Neufeldt was the youngest child of Johann Neufeldt and Kornelia (Born) Neufeldt. At age 7 he fell through ice on a pond and contracted rheumatic fever, which damaged his heart. He missed several months of school while recovering and had to repeat grade 2. School did not interest Peter. He started grade 8 but never finished the year, something that he often boasted about to his friends and family.
While he was growing up, Peter worked in his father’s blacksmith shop and his brothers’ manufacturing and plumbing shop. He eventually obtained his journeyman plumbing and gasfitting tickets and started his own business, “Pete’s Plumbing & Heating.”
Peter attended the Mennonite Church in Coaldale as a child. He re-dedicated his life to God as a young man after attending the Evangelical Free Church in Lethbridge. He was baptized and joined the Mennonite Brethren Church in Coaldale.
At the age of 22, Peter fell in love with Ella Ratzlaff. They were married on 17 May 1959. In February 1962, Peter and Ella welcomed their first baby, Colin; a second child, Gerald, was born in May 1963; their third son, John Glen, was born in October 1968. The plumbing business kept Peter and his family busy, but it also provided them with the financial means to purchase several residential rental properties. Peter wanted his sons to have a trade, so he had them apprentice with him as plumbers/gasfitters and attend trade school while they were still in high school.
Peter enjoyed having coffee with friends and relatives, often going to the coffee shop 3 or 4 times a day. As a senior, Peter regularly had coffee with “the Senate,” a group of retired men who solved all of the world’s problems – at least in theory.
Ella was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2002 and passed away in 2005. Peter eventually fell in love with Edna (Kroeker) Braun, and the two were married on 29 October 2006. Edna brought much-needed stability to Peter’s life again, and the two had the opportunity to travel. Edna was a great comfort and support to Peter, helping him with his medications and weekly doctors’ appointments. One of Peter’s greatest joys in his later years was spending time with his family and enjoying the company of his and Edna’s grandchildren.
On 27 February 2016, Peter J. Neufeldt passed away at the age of 79 years in Lethbridge Regional Hospital. Peter was predeceased by his first wife, Ella (Ratzlaff) Neufeldt, his parents Johann and Kornelia Neufeldt, and his siblings John, Jake, Isaac, Anne, Kornelia, Aganeta, Maria and Marta. Peter will be lovingly remembered by his second wife Edna (Kroeker) (Braun) Neufeldt, his children Colin (Lynette) Neufeldt, Gerald (Kathy) Neufeldt, and J. Glen (Rachel) Neufeldt, his grandchildren Jasmine (Justin) Clark, Donovan (Natalie) Neufeldt, Adam (Maleah) Neufeldt, Reuben Neufeldt, Alexandra Neufeldt, Sarah Neufeldt, Olivia Neufeldt, and Miranda Neufeldt, his great grandson Christopher Clark, and his siblings Nellie Elaine Vander Linden, Ab Neufeldt, and Mary Martens. Peter is also survived by his stepson Brian (Amber) Braun and their children Zachery and Hadley.
Now that Peter’s earthly journey is finished, he can begin his heavenly sojourn.