Dr. Ray Neufeld Obituary

I’m appending my dad’s obituary to this post in its fully expanded version. Various papers published various portions.

I greatly appreciate the expressions of sympathy and support from the comments here. I’m still in Niagara Falls until Saturday, though a good portion of my business happens on the internet so I’m back to working some. I have considered posting my comments from the funeral, which have started to circulate via e-mail amongst the family, but I’m not comfortable doing so thus far. I spoke from Hebrews 11:32-12:3 about continuing to add to the story of faith through an active life.

The obituary will give you a small glimpse of the kind of life my dad lead. After all was written and the funeral complete, I was told that he asked to pray with the surgical team before he went in for his final surgery, which was his habit when he was in practice, so he still was keeping “with it” even at that point.

Herewith the obituary.

Raymond D. Neufeld, MD, born January 14, 1920, went to sleep in Jesus on October 8, 2006 at 5:30 AM, in the full hope of the resurrection.

He was born in Waldheim, Saskatchewan, Canada to Jacob and Anna Neufeld, the youngest of 10 brothers and sisters. He was predeceased by sisters Mary Neufeld, Anne Feyerabend, Viola Neufeld, Elizabeth Neufeld, Esther Klam, Catherine Blair, Nettie Williams, and brothers Don Neufeld, and Henry Neufeld, son-in-law Robert Schwab, Jr., and grandson James Webb. He is survived by his wife of sixty years Myrtle Blabey Neufeld, daughters Betty Nick and Patricia Schwab, sons Dr. Robert (Aydah) and Henry (Jody), 11 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren (one more on the way), and many nieces and nephews.

Dr. Ray dedicated his life in service to his Lord, his church, and his community. He served throughout the United States and Canada, as well as in Mexico and Guyana. Within his lifetime he saw electrical power, telephone lines, and the automobile introduced to his home town, but in his last years he enjoyed spending time on the internet and continued ministering to others by corresponding with prison inmates.

His legacy in the first generation includes Betty, retired elementary school teacher, Dr. Robert, chief of cardiology at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, Patricia, obstetrical and NICU nurse, and Henry, Bible and Biblical Languages teacher. In the second generation, it includes musicians, worship leaders, pastors, artists, professional baseball players, medical professionals, engineers, and teachers.

Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Tuesday October 10, 2006 at Niagara Falls Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Adventist Frontier Missions, P. O. Box 346, Berrien Springs, MI 49103-0346 for the project of: Tim and Dawn Holbrook (son John).