Jakob Neufeld

Title: Jakob Neufeld fonds

Dates of creation: 1986-1987

Physical description: 1 cm of textual records

Biographical sketch: Jakob Neufeld (1906-1990) was born in Gregerowka, South Russia, the son of Johann and Susanna (Hiebert) Neufeld. His mother died shortly after his birth. In his youth he was a shepherd in Einlage, where he joined the Mennonite Brethren church. He later worked in the Caucuses region where he married his first wife who died in childbirth. He married for a second time in 1937 in Schoenhorst to Katharina (1908-2003); the couple would have five children. From 1941-1944 he worked as an interpreter for the German army. The family made their way to Germany, where Neufeld managed to evade capture by the Soviets until 1947 when he was sentenced to hard labour in Siberia. Neufeld was allowed to come to Canada in 1983 to rejoin his family. He died in Vineland, Ontario in 1990.

Custodial history: Donated to the Archives in 2021 by Peter Rempel

Scope and content: An autobiographical manuscript by Jakob Neufeld written in 1986 titled "The Story of My Life," translated from German by John Pauls. Also, a partial manuscript in German and some poems in German.

Notes: See also "Jakob Neufeld," Der Bote, June 13, 1990, p. 7.
Original archival description created 2021 by Laureen Harder-Gissing.