Tribute

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Wolly on January 7th, 2023, at Tabor Home in Abbotsford, after a short battle with pancreatic cancer. He will be missed by all who loved him.

Dad was born in Einlage, Ukraine. He was one of the ‘middle’ children born to Kornelius and Emilie (Schaubert) Neustaedter. Kornelius and Emilie had 7 children, 6 of which made it to adulthood. They fled the Ukraine in 1943 and after much turmoil the family moved to Colony Neuland, Gran Chaco, Paraguay in February 1947. There they made a life for themselves and their children.

Dad often regaled us with stories of life in the Chaco. Those 10 years in Paraguay had a lasting impact on him. His love of farming, being outside and storytelling, we believe started there. In 1957, dad along with his parents and two younger siblings moved to Canada, settling in Winnipeg, MB. Dad immediately started working to help support the family.

In 1960 Dad met his bride-to-be, Anyta Wiebe in North Kildonan, Winnipeg. They met through the church ‘youth’ group. Dad was baptised in 1960 by Elder Enns. And on June 3rd, 1961, he and Anyta were married. In 1970, they were blessed with Theodore their eldest and 2 years later, in 1972 Emilie came along. By 1973 they decided to join the move out west to British Columbia, not knowing that a surprise was on the way. Deanna came along in October of 1973. Dad and mom first settled in Vancouver, BC where dad worked for a trucking company as well as started to build houses. Eventually they decided to move out to farm country in 1977.

Mom and Dad made a home for us in Langley for 10 years, where dad enjoyed turning the acre into a hobby farm where the neighbourhood children spent many an afternoon into the evening playing in the large yard. In 1987, we moved to Abbotsford. Dad in true form had a garden planted even before the move was finished. The smaller yard allowed Dad to have time for one of his other joys, his music. He played mandolin and with mom’s help learned how to read music and transpose it. Dad retired in 1997 and used his free time to improve his yard, play in two different music groups and help family and friends who needed it. The music groups played in different care homes around Abbotsford, including Menno Home and Tabor Home.

After much thought, and discussion mom and dad finally decided to downsize to a condo, in 2013 and in April 2022, after a fall, it was determined that mom and dad needed more care and they moved to Tabor Home. On Boxing Day dad was officially diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

Woldemar Neustaedter is survived by his loving wife, Anyta (Wiebe), his children Theodore (Nicole), Emilie (Mike), and Deanna (Patrick), his grandchildren Jordan, Mitchell, Christopher, Cody, Brooklyn, Jack, Megan, Emily and Kimberly, and his 2 great granddaughters Isabella and Rosalie. His brother, Henry (Hilde) and his sister Kathy (Peter).In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Taborvillage.org or https://donate.mcccanada.ca/