Lila Neufeld

Lila Mae (Penner) Neufeld was born on June 20, 1933 on the home farm near Mountain Lake, Minnesota. She died peacefully in her sleep at her home on September 25, 2017. Lila was the youngest daughter of Anna (Teichroew) and Peter I. Penner. Her childhood language was Plattdeutsch and her lifelong love of learning and teaching began at the Country School District #15. Lila graduated from Mountain Lake High School in 1951. In 1955 she graduated from Grace Bible Institute in Omaha. She also attended Mt. Lake Bible School and Mankato State Teachers College and taught for two years at the Mountain Lake Christian Day School. Following this, Lila went to Gulfport, Mississippi serving one year in Mennonite Voluntary Service as a Christian education teacher of African American students. This MVS effort was a "quiet demonstration" that supported the emerging civil rights movement. In 1957, while living in Gulfport, she met a young seminarian from Chicago, Ernest W. Neufeld. Lila and Ernie were married on August 31, 1958 at First Mennonite Church of Mountain Lake. Together with Ernest, Lila served Mennonite congregations in Summerfield, IL; Philadelphia, PA; Allentown, PA; Phoenix, AZ; Freeman, SD; Fargo, ND and Meridian, MS. Music and faith in God were integral parts of Lila's life. She contributed her gifts as pianist, organist, choir director, and choir member to every church community. Her leadership skills were used in education committees and as a Sunday school teacher. Lila was an avid reader, loved playing games, quilting and doing puzzles with her children and grandchildren. Providing hospitality, caring for her flowers and garden, and cooking and baking for family were a source of joy. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sister Verna Penner, brother Melroy Penner, brother and sister-in-law Alton and Luella Penner, brother-in-law Peter A. Fast, and niece Luanne Fast. Lila is survived by her children, Randy Neufeld (Susan Geil), Laurel Neufeld Weaver (Paul), Sheryl Fast (Rodney), Rachel Neufeld-Schultze (Albrecht). Her ten grandchildren, Erin Kerns (Jason), Jonah Geil-Neufeld (Annie Fassler), Jeremy Fast, Hannah Geil-Neufeld , Mitchell Fast, Justin Neufeld Weaver, Katelyn Fast, Ann-Katrin Schultze, Ana Neufeld Weaver, and Jan-Christoph Schultze and one great-grandchild Logan Kerns. Her sister, Esther (Penner) Fast, brother- in law, Robert Coon, and sister in-law and her husband, Edith (Neufeld) and Steve Michalovic. Memorial gifts may be made to Mennonite Voluntary Service online https://mmngiving.formstack.com/forms/where_most_needed or sent to Mennonite Mission Network, PO Box 370, Elkhart, IN 66515 Visitation 1 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Sunday, October 1, 2017 Sturm Funeral Home, Mountain Lake Chapel 420 - 10th St. N. Mtn. Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Interment Information 9:30 am Monday, October 2, 2017 Mountain Lake City Cemetery 10th St. N at Midway Rd Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Visitation 2 10:00 am - 11:00 am Monday, October 2, 2017 Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota 301 N 9th St Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Service Information 11:00 am Monday, October 2, 2017 Bethel Mennonite Church, Mountain Lake, Minnesota 301 N 9th St Mountain Lake, Minnesota, United States 56159 Luncheon Luncheon to follow services at the church.