Obituary of Artur Neumann

After a life filled with many difficulties as well as blessings, on March 10, 2017, Artur Neumann passed away at the Red River Valley Lodge in Morris at the age of 101 years and 10 months. He is survived by two sons: Heinz and wife Joanne and their children Nicole (Mike) Pedde, Curtis , and Michelle (Dan) Kuenstler ; son Sieg and wife Wendi and their children Marla (Tracy) Brandt, Tanya (Ken) Gerbrandt and Trisha (Jeff) Klassen, 9 great grandchildren Bentley, Ethan and Tate Brandt, Cooper and Piper Gerbrandt, Carter and Drew Pedde, Yeabsira Kuenstler and Otto Klassen. He is also survived by one brother Ulrich (Christa) Neumann of Leamington, Ontario and one sister-in-law Johanna Neumann of Edmonton, Alberta as well as many nieces and nephews in Canada and Germany. Artur was born on May 3, 1915 in Wrzeschevo, County of Rypin in Poland to Marta and Hermann Neumann. He was the third in line of 6 children (Rheinhold, Wanda, Artur, Meta, Richard and Ulrich). His father was a farmer. He had a happy childhood attending a small four room local school. His parents sent him to a boys school about 15 km away for high school where he boarded with a family for 4 years. At the age of 12 years he made a personal commitment to follow Jesus and was baptized in July 1927. He loved music and played violin in the string orchestra and baritone in the brass orchestra in his church. He was blessed with an amazing tenor voice and sang in the mixed and male church choirs. Throughout his years, he also sang solos and his voice could be heard soaring above the congregational singing. Even when he was in the care home he continued to sing. His caregivers told us they thought someone was listening to a recording and then would stand outside his door and listen as he sang. On November 29, 1939 he was united in marriage to Klara, the only child of Hermann and Marta Strohschein. Shortly after their wedding, life became difficult for them as Artur was forced to join the army in April 1941. Near the end of the war, he was sent to the Russian front and he disappeared. His whereabouts at that time are still unknown today. In January of 1945, his wife and her parents and relatives were forced to leave Poland because of the advancing Russian army. With horse-drawn wagon they fled from one location to another in snow, rain and ice. After 3 months, they arrived in West Germany and during that summer, he was reunited with her when the war was over. Artur and Klara were very fortunate to be taken in by the Wehler family in West Germany. Arthur loved working on their farm near Hanover. They were treated as part of the family and remained friends for life. During this time they were blessed with two sons, Heinz in 1946 and Sieg in 1947. In August 1948 they emigrated to Canada aboard the Beaverbrae residing first on a farm near Rosenfeld, Manitoba. Here Artur could continue his love for mixed farming as hired help. This slowly turned into an opportunity to rent the land with the goal to eventually own his own farm. At this time they started fellowshipping at the Emmanuel Baptist Church in Morris and became members. Over the years he served as deacon and as a choir member. His faith was very important to him and he rarely missed a service. In 1960 his dream became a reality when he was able to purchase his own farm near Morris. It was a family operation from the beginning with Klara and the boys all working together with him. He especially enjoyed working with the cattle and in the garden picking produce, apples and berries. He was only too happy to turn the grain part of the operation over to the boys at an early age, to not make the big decisions but to be the hired man again. This position he held into his 80’s which included operating the swather, driving the grain truck and deep tilling the fields. His greatest joy was when his family began expanding, first of all with two daughters-in-law followed by six wonderful grandchildren and then nine great grandchildren. His face lit up whenever they came to visit. He cared for each of them deeply and in his eyes they could do no wrong. Artur and Klara enjoyed wintering in Mesa, Arizona for a number of years until Klara’s health deteriorated. He became a wonderful care giver to her until her death in 1991 after 51 years of marriage. He moved into Meadowwood Manor in Winnipeg and enjoyed city life, riding the bus and attending concerts and various church services. On November 13, 1993, he married Frieda Lepholtz and they enjoyed 10 years together until her passing. A few years later, he moved back to Morris and resided at the Parkside Villa and then the Red River Valley Lodge for the last 4 years. We would like to thank the wonderful caring staff and Dr. Manness who looked after him so well. On Friday March 10, 2017, he was called to his heavenly home to which he had been longing to go for a number of years. He left us a rich legacy of commitment to the Lord, service, hard work and perseverance. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the House of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6. Auf Wiedersehen for now Opa!! We will see you in heaven! A celebration of Artur's life will be held Friday, March 17, 2017 at 2:00pm at the Morris Emmanuel Baptist Church. A private family burial will take place prior to the service in the Morris Cemetery. Donations in memory of Artur may be made to Camp Nutimik.