Neufeld, Edwin Eugene (1931-2004)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 2005 Jan 17 p. 9

Birth date: 1931 Mar 19

text of obituary:

EDWIN EUGENE NEUFELD

Edwin Eugene Neufeld, 73, of Goshen, Ind., died Dec. 26, 2004. He was born March 19, 1931, to Frank and Mary Fehdrau Neufeld in Inman, Kan.

He graduated from Inman High School. He was baptized June 9, 1949, and joined Bethel Mennonite Church of Inman.

On Aug. 26, 1953, he married Marjorie Banman at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church of Goessel, Kan.

He attended Bethel College of North Newton, Kan., for two years, then transferred to the University of Iowa in Iowa City, where he received a bachelor's degree in liberal arts and a master's degree in speech pathology and audiology in 1965. While in Iowa, he was a researcher at University of Iowa Hospital, 1965-1967.

He worked for Herald Book and Printing Co. in the late 1950s as a typesetter. In 1967 he moved to Elkhart, where he served as director of speech and hearing at Aux Chandelles School.

Having dealt with his own stuttering, he now had become an expert in his own dilemma. In 1973, he opened a private practice, covering five counties.

When Ten Thousand Villages needed a manager in Denver, he spent four years there. He spent another four years opening a store in Cambridge, Mass.

Upon returning to Goshen, and in spite of a grim prognosis with a weakened heart and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, he accepted the challenge of selling patio enclosures with the Raber group.

He had an incredible optimism, a passion for life and a vibrant faith. First Mennonite in Denver, Trinity in Boston, St. Paul's Methodist in Elkhart and Silverwood Mennonite Church of Goshen all played a vital role in nurturing his faith.

Survivors include his wife of 51 years, Marjorie; four children, Ron of Nashville, Tenn., Jan of Elkhart, and Martha and Patty, both of Goshen; 13 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Memorial services were held at Silverwood Mennonite Church.