Peter Remembered by Daughter Dianne

Peter Warren Neufeld

1917 – 2013

A committed husband, father, grandfather and uncle, Dad spent his whole life working hard and helping anyone who needed a break and some respect.  He finished his career as an executive in the automobile industry working for Dueck on Broadway.   This fact alone is a testament to his grit, starting as a prairie boy, born in Warmen, Saskatechewan.

Growing up in Medicine Hat Alberta, his family did not intend for him to go to war or succeed in business.  He had other ideas, avoiding his father’s careful arrangements to have him work in a munitions factory and not join his brothers overseas. He had already tasted poverty and idleness during the Depression, riding the rails and trying all kinds of short term work.   When the love of his life, Clare Borth , moved to Ottawa to help the war effort and her own fortunes by working for the Department of Defense, he went to Vancouver and signed on to the Navy.  Passing a swimming test was the tricky part but he managed to avoid that pitfall by volunteering to take his diesel mechanic skills to the Royal Navy.   Every one of their personnel ships had a Canadian aboard to maintain the landing craft.  Getting them across the Atlantic was another story altogether that we will tell later on.

So in this capacity, he managed to avoid the bullets, working off the coast of North Africa, ending up in Malta, being rescued to Scotland where he got sorted out just in time for the end of war.  However, his lack of attention to letter writing had already earned him a ‘dear john’ letter from Clare so he came home expecting nothing, only to be tricked into seeing Clare again (she was tricked by her sister as well) and the love affair was off again. They moved to Vancouver, set up house with Pete’s sister Sue and her husband Boulter in a big old house on the east side near 28 and Main street.   Dianne Lynn (that’s me) was born a year later and  Peter slowly moved from the mechanic’s bench to the sales floor to the executive offices as she grew.    It was impressive and in later years, he expressed his own amazement as well.

The Boom years took them to North Vancouver, into an interest in politics, golf and Hawaiian and Cariboo vacations.   By this time he was an expert card player, beer maker, dancer and all round bon vivant.  A very likable guy who always wanted to make a joke . He deferred to Clare in matters of entertainment and real estate both of which became her forte and the projects that he supported.

After Clare’s passing in 2008, Peter continued his popularity, this time with all of the caregivers who frequented his house ensuring his wish to be there until he left “feet first”.

96 years is a long time and he was sadly predeceased by all of his siblings: Robert, Abraham, Margaret, William, Henry, Bertha, Jacob, Susan, Agnes, Mary, David, Katherine and Elizabeth.  His parents were David Neufeld and Katherine (Shellenberg). 

Peter/ Pete is survived by his daughter, Dianne Neufeld and his grand daughter, Ashlee Conery.  They were near him most of the last week of his life and are sure they teased a smile out of him a few times.

He is missed.