RALF NEUENDORFF

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RALF NEUENDORFF Peacefully, and in trust of God's forgiveness and eternal love, Ralf Neuendorff passed away on Tuesday, August 21, 2007, with those dear to him at his side. He will be lovingly remembered by his wife Gwen and daughter Melanie, sons, Tolv (Nancy) and Rex (Maureen); adopted daughters, Marion Davis and Angela Leonard; grandchildren, Matthew and Amanda; Laura and Scotty; Bailey, Garrett and Tanner. He was predeceased by his father Willy, his mother Olga Erika, and his brother Gert (Isa). He is survived by his sister Dea L'Heureux (Phil), many cousins, nephews and nieces; numerous other relatives and friends in Canada, Germany, United States and Nassau; as well as his long-time best friend Dr. Dietmar Meyer (Joan) in Barrie, ON. Ralf was born a Baltic German in Tallinn, Estonia on March 19, 1933. The Neuendorff family moved to Germany in 1939, where they lived in Thorn, Plauen, Luebeck and the Black Forest. Ralf almost lost his life on his 12th birthday in 1945 in Plauen, when allied bombers hit the apartment building his family was living in. After enduring the adversities of the Second World War, the Neuendorffs started a new life in Luebeck. Ralf received his education in that city, where he was accepted to sing with the prestigious boys' choir, Luebecker Knaben-Kantorei. He was also chosen by his school to a select sports team competing in Sweden during the summer of 1950. The family immigrated to Canada in 1951, beginning a new life and making their home in Winnipeg. Ralf joined the Germania Kickers soccer club, playing his first game in the National Soccer League at Wesley Park, today's site of the University of Winnipeg. He also became a member of Studiobuehne Rumpelstilzchen, a German language amateur theatre group, taking lead roles in such plays as Tante Jutta aus Kalkutta ( Charlie's Aunt ). He first worked as a printer at Caxton Press, Deloraine Times, and Hull Publishing. In 1956, he joined National Publishers in Winnipeg as associate editor of Der Norwesten, the oldest German language weekly paper in Canada. In 1958, as a member of a delegation of ethnic newspaper editors, he was invited to a reception in Ottawa by the Governor-General of Canada. In 1964, he joined Sanford Evans Publishing as editor of trade magazines. He was also Manitoba correspondent for Radio Canada International (CBC). After 13 years with Sanford Evans Publishing, Ralf joined Courier Press. For seven years, he held the position as editor-in-chief of the Kanada Kurier German language national weekly newspaper until his retirement in 1995. In 1984, he was assigned to cover the multilateral Umweltkonferenz on international pollution control in Munich. As a former long-time member of the Winnipeg Press Club, he had opportunity to meet such personalities as former Prime Minister and Nobel Prize winner Lester B. Pearson. For 15 years, Ralf was a member of the executive of the German Canadian Business and Professional Association of Manitoba as publicity chairman. For over 30 years, he enjoyed playing tennis at various clubs in Winnipeg, participating in many tournaments in the city and province. Ralf enjoyed being creative, composing music and writing poetry. He and his wife Gwen found joy in theatre and opera. In nature, he admired God's gift of beauty to mankind, together with Gwen and his beloved daughter Melanie ( Schnuggelpuss ). Ralf was a long time member of St. Peter's Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. He was confirmed in 1949 in St. Katharinen Church in Luebeck, Germany. Special thanks go out to all the caring professionals at the Concordia and Victoria Hospitals who cared for Ralf so compassionately in his last days. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Ralf's memory to the Heart and Stroke Foundation or the Diabetes Foundation of Manitoba. Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, August 28 at St. Peter's Lutheran Church, 65 Walnut Street, Pastor Heimo Bachmeyer officiating. Interment at Brookside Cemetery. NEIL BARDAL INC. 949-2200 www.nbardal.mb.ca

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Aug 25, 2007