Neufeld, Vern

VERNON CLARENCE NEUFELD, of Lethbridge, AB, beloved husband of Ruth Neufeld, passed peacefully into the arms of his Lord and Saviour in St. Michael's Health Centre - Palliative Care Unit on August 21, 2021 at the age of 87 years.

Vern was born September 1, 1933 at home on the family farm near Didsbury, AB. He attended a country school in the Davenport School District in the Didsbury area. Vern loved machinery and wheels and worked road construction before he left home in 1955 to attend Canadian Mennonite Bible College in Winnipeg, MB. At the College Christmas Banquet, he met our Mom, Anne (Peters) Neufeld. They were married on August 12, 1956 in Winkler, MB. Vern graduated with a music degree in 1959 and they moved to Altona, MB, where he taught at Elim Bible School for two years and began his choir-conducting career. During this time, their two daughters, Cheryl & Sylvia, were born. In 1962, Vern accepted a position at the Swift Current Bible Institute to teach music and conduct choirs. During the 1968-69 school year, the family lived in North Newton, KS, while Vern completed his Bachelor of Music degree at Bethel College. In 1975, the family moved from Swift Current, SK, to Coaldale, AB, where Vern took a position as Director of Music and Youth at the Coaldale Mennonite Church. Vern's trucking career started in 1986 with CJD Trucking. He drove 24 years until he was 77, when he 'semi-retired' and hired a driver for his truck, which he owned until his passing.  Our Mom, Anne, passed away from cancer in 2004 after 47 years of marriage.  God brought Ruth (our Bonus Mom) into Vern's life and they were married September 10, 2005. We, as a family, have cherished these past 16 years together.

Vern is survived by his wife, Ruth; daughters Cheryl O'Donnell and Sylvia (Bill) Klassen; grandchildren Cody (Bailey) O'Donnell, Jeff (Patricia) O'Donnell, Dustin (Taya) O'Donnell, Lacey O'Donnell, Josh (Crystal) Klassen, Christy Martens, Amy (Conrad) Martens and Alyssa (Nathan) Pahl and 23 great-grandchildren; brother Elmer (Erna) Neufeld, sister-in-law Sarah Neufeld, sister Lydia (Aaron) Derksen ; brother-in-law John Unrau; brother-in-law Paul (Elizabeth) Peters, sisters-in-law Susan (Abe) Wiebe and Hilda (Henry) Schulz; and numerous extended family members and friends.

Vern was predeceased by his parents Cornelius G. & Agatha Neufeld, his first wife Anne Neufeld, son-in-law Jim O'Donnell, infant granddaughter Darby Lee O'Donnell, brother Harvey Neufeld and sister Ruth Lowen and her husband George.

Vern spent his life serving and praising God in song, by volunteering, and by building relationships with family, friends & complete strangers, who, as Dad would say, "they were just friends he hadn't met yet".  Vern spent many years volunteering with MCC, an organization that helps those less fortunate locally & around the world.

Vern will be remembered as the special man that he was to his family and so many others - loving, caring, kind, helpful, generous, and gracious. His love of Jesus, music and wheels is the legacy he leaves to those of us still here.

We invite you to the celebration of Vern's life on what would have been his 88^th birthday at the COALDALE MB CHURCH, 2114 - 18 Street, Coaldale, AB, on Wed, Sept 1, 2021 at 1:30 PM. Following the service, Vern will be laid to rest in the Coaldale Mennonite Cemetery.

Both the Celebration of Life and Graveside will be livestreamed and may be accessed via Vern's obituary on the Cornerstone website. The livestream will begin at 1:00 P.M. with a pictorial tribute.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to MCC Alberta, 2946-32 Street NE, Calgary, AB T1Y 6J7, at the funeral service or on-line at mcccanada.ca.