Tribute

Anne was born in Laird, Saskatchewan on May 21, 1932 to John and Anna Neufeld (nee Becker). She was the youngest of three children, following her brother Alvin and sister Katie.  Anne was just four years old when the family moved to Carleton, Saskatchewan. The family moved again when Anne was seven years old to Yarrow, British Columbia. Anne grew up in a Mennonite Brethren Church. For her first grade she went to Yarrow Elementary School and the following year moved to Upper Sumas Elementary School which was ten miles away from her family’s new home in Upper Sumas. She picked hops with her family from the time she was seven years old until she was seventeen, along with her family where they made 3 cents per pound. During raspberry season they also picked berries to help out her family. In 1950/51 Anne attended MEI (Mennonite Educational Institute) in Abbotsford, where she completed grades eleven and twelve in one year.  When Anne was nine she came down with the red measles, and her mother taught her the song “Wer Jesus am Kreuze im Glauben erblickt, wist Heil zu derselbigen Stund” which is translated “Whoever looks unto Jesus on the cross in faith, will receive healing”. Her mother explained how she could, by faith, receive Christ’s salvation which she did. That night when she was transferred back to her own bed, she told her sister how she had accepted Christ as her Saviour and led her to the Lord that night. She thought after that she would never sin again, but when she did, she wondered if she had really been saved at all.  Anne was saved January 27, 1946 and recommitted her life to the Lord February 19,1949 and was baptized at the age of eighteen and very quickly became involved in the Yarrow MB Church, singing in the choir and teaching classes in the morning and Sunday School at Bridal Falls in the afternoon, which was part of their church’s extension programme.  The following years after teaching Sunday School, along with the other activities, it was clear to Anne that  the Lord wanted to use her to work with children, so she attended and graduated on to MBBC in Winnipeg where she went for her BRE (Bachelor of Religious Education). She applied to attend teacher training , but was approached by the field director of the West Coast Children’s Mission to consider secretarial work in the office, which put her in charge of the correspondence programme.  She wrote up lessons for a correspondence course to keep in contact with all the children reached through the vacation Bible schools (1955). She also taught DVBS at Hammond, Steveston (in Richmond) and North Bend, as well as Kindergarten in Yarrow and Oliver during the summer months. She enjoyed the work there and really experienced God’s leading in her life.  During her time there she taught with Mary Wiebe, who later became her sister in law, after Anne met Mary’s brother Abe. He came to the WCCM (West Coast Children’s Mission) office for Sunday School supplies.  Realizing they shared the same interests, they got married in August of 1956. Abe and Anne purchased their  first home in Abbotsford in 1958. They became members of the Clearbrook MB Church in 1959 and were  involved there for many years.  The Lord blessed them with four children – Clarence, Grace, Sharon and Dennis. Anne was delighted to be a homemaker. When her children were still very young, Anne would take them with her to the raspberry fields where she would pick berries every summer. She continued to do so for many years and in the past few years she finally gave this up, due to her declining health. Through the years, Anne has held many jobs, including cooking at Columbia Bible College, and at Sherwood Manor for sixteen years and retired in 1997.  After her retirement, Anne continued to stay busy and volunteered at MCC and Camp Likely a couple of summers, and making blankets and putting together care packages for those who had less than she did, as well as Operation Christmas Child shoebox packing. She loved spending time with her family and friends, and they could often be found around the table playing games. Anne enjoyed playing the organ as well as reading, and researching information on the computer. Anne also enjoyed the road trips she often did with many family members and friends. She was a great cook and recently took a cooking class with Dennis and enjoyed trying to recreate international cuisine.  Anne was always an early riser, and began each day reading her Bible and spending time in prayer for each of her children and grandchildren. In 1984 Anne came to South Abbotsford MB Church and has been involved for over 30 years, and enjoyed attending her care group as well as her Ladies Bible Study. Anne always enjoyed music and often her and her sister Katie would sing duets during church services at the early age of five or six. She continued to use her gift of music and sang regularly with her care group at Tabor Home and Menno Hospital. She loved the old hymns, and her favourite is “What a Friend We Have In Jesus”.  Many appreciated hearing and receiving poems that Anne selected for them. She was known for her cheerful attitude and encouraged many.