CORNELIUS ABRAM DEFEHR

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CORNELIUS ABRAM DEFEHR Cornelius A. (Neil) DeFehr passed away peacefully to be with the Lord on January 2, 2017, after a brief illness. He was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba on October 2, 1932. Cornelius loved working in the family business in Winnipeg as a young man and later moved to British Columbia and became a developer. During the mid 1970s Cornelius, along with his wife Martha, moved to Fresno where their children were attending Fresno Pacific College. He enjoyed travelling, photography, spent time as a group leader for Bible Study Fellowship along with working as a hospice volunteer, was a Rotarian and served on his church Congregational Care Team. He was dedicated to helping others and was respected for his deep commitment to the Lord. Cornelius is survived by: his wife, Sonia Niemotka DeFehr; his three children by Martha, Karin and her husband John Calcote, Richard DeFehr and his wife Lynn, Gretta and her husband Richard Petersen; and Sonia's children Maria and her husband Michael Gabrielson, Anthony Niemotka and his wife Jen, and John Niemotka; five DeFehr grandchildren and seven Niemotka grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters, Velma Dyck, Gretta Isaac and Alice Pauls and their husbands. Martha DeFehr and Luella Balzer DeFehr predeceased him. A Service celebrating his life will be held in the North Fresno Mennonite Brethren Church, 5724 N. Fresno St., Fresno, CA on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 12:00 noon. Remembrances may be made to Fresno Area Community Enterprises through North Fresno Church.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 07, 2017