Roland Bruno Neufeldt
1937 - 2020

Roland Neufeldt was born February 9, 1937 in Yarrow, British Columbia. He was the ninth child of Jacob and Anna (Hinz) Neufeldt. He was only one month old when his mother Anna passed away.

The Lord provided a second mother for the family and over the next few years the family grew to a total of 14 children. In 1944 the family moved to a farm in Greendale and Rollie was responsible for many of the farm chores including milking the cows and hauling the milk. When he was 15 years old, he quit school to help out fulltime on the family farm because his father was ill and could no longer work.

Softball was popular in the community and Rollie enjoyed many years of success on the field and as a coach throughout his life. During this time, he accepted Jesus as his personal Saviour and was baptized a few years later.

He continued to help his dad on the farm until he got his job at Martens Motors in Yarrow. It was there met the love of his life Alita Reimer. They were married September 14, 1957 and made their home on Stewart Road in Yarrow. New employment with Modern Building Supply took them to Surrey for half a year before they came back to Yarrow and welcomed their first child, a daughter Wendie. A few years later they moved to another house on Yarrow Central Road and their second daughter Dianna joined the family.

Rollie moved his small family to Clearbrook BC for a short time and then over the river to Hatzic where he starting work at Dueck Building Supplies. Rollie loved helping out in the church and spent many years ushering and singing in the choir. It was during this time at Mountain View Chapel he and his buddies formed the gospel quartet The Discoverers. They spent a number of years ministering in churches, summer camps and touring BC and Alberta.

In 1970 the family moved to Abbotsford which was Rollie’s hometown for the rest of his life. It was in the early 1970s when Rollie purchased BC Forming Supplies. He expanded the company to include equipment rentals which serviced all the Fraser Valley. Rollie had a huge heart for people which drew him to become involved in the emergency services including over a decade of work as a paramedic with BC Ambulance and over 25 years as a auxiliary firefighter and chief. Never one to let the grass grow under his feet and to satisfy his artistic flair, Rollie sold BC Forming, retired from the ambulance service and turned his photography hobby into a professional photography studio which he continued until retirement.

Throughout the years, in their spare time Rollie and Alita enjoyed fishing with his brothers and sisters, camping with the family, and trips to Hawaii and Mexico.

After his first heart surgery, Rollie and Alita moved to their Royal Court condo where he became involved in the strata council and served as president for years. After losing Alita in June 2010, he asked the Lord to show him a new direction and it was at this time he joined the Abbotsford Men’s Chorus where he continued his love of singing.

Over the years additional health problems developed and he eventually needed help and moved into Tabor Court Assisted Living. As Rollie’s needs became greater, he moved to Menno Home where he spent 18 months being loved by the staff. Rollie continued to enjoy using his camera in the gardens, showing off his photography skills and singing the hymns that meant so much to him.

Rollie was diagnosed with Covid-19 late November and passed peacefully on December 5th 2020 into the arms of Jesus.

Predeceased by his wife Alita, his parents and several brothers and sisters, he is survived by daughters Wendie (Ken) Nickel, Dianna (Simon) Lewis, grandchildren Cassi and Jamie Falk, Catrina and Ron Jackson, Trent Nickel, Sierra and Josh Rempel. He is also survived by four great grandchildren, Gale, Colbie, Corran and Otis along with loving brothers and sisters, many nieces, nephews and friends.

A private burial is being planned with a celebration of life at a later date. The family would like to thank the loving staff at Menno Home for the great care they took with dad in seeing him off to his new adventure.