Ronald (Ron) John Neufeld was born on September 3, 1952, in Dinuba, California to Wesley and Anna Quiring Neufeld. He was the youngest of three children, joining sister Carol and brother Gerald. During Ron's childhood his dad was a farmer, growing cotton and grapes, and was also a minister at the Dinuba Bible Chapel and the Cutler Bible Chapel. Ron loved his childhood on the farm and developed a love for growing things. He also grew to love Jesus and at a young age accepted Him as his Savior and was baptized. He attended Sultana School through 8th grade. He enjoyed the time he spent with his grandparents and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

When Ron was ready to start high school God called his dad to sell the farm and be a full-time pastor at the First Baptist Church in the small town of Ducor, about 60 miles south of Dinuba. He attended Porterville High School and got his first job at the Texaco gas station in Ducor. Following high school Ron attended Porterville College where he played football. He also enjoyed playing on the church softball and basketball leagues.

In the summer of 1971 Ron met Gail Unruh through his cousin at Rosedale Bible Church and sparks flew on their first date, and not just because it was the 4th of July fireworks they were watching. They married on May 4, 1974, in the same church where they met. It was a union that would last 51 years through good and bad.

After a honeymoon along the Central California Coast Ron and Gail settled into their first home west of Ducor. Ron worked as a farmhand for a friend, but he still had his childhood dream of having his own farm. There was a 40-acre parcel of land next to the house that was perfect for farming, so Ron planted cotton. They had a decent yield of cotton that first year! The following year Ron accepted a job managing a citrus and cotton farm on the East side of Ducor. Ron and Gail were also very involved in the Ducor First Baptist Church with a growing group of young married couples. They enjoyed many gatherings with these friends and have remained close over the years. This was also the time they would start a family with the birth of their first son, Brian, born in 1977.

In 1979 Ron was offered some ground to farm in Lindsay, Calif. where he grew cotton, wheat, and silage corn. During this time the family grew, with the birth of Matthew in 1980 and Cynthia in 1983. In 1989 when farming across the country took a downturn Ron made the difficult decision to give up this dream, for he knew it would not sustain the family for long. He accepted a position in Bakersfield working for Nikkel Brothers Farm. He continued working in various agriculture related jobs until his failing health would not allow it. These jobs included land leveling with Richard Clasen and growing cotton at CPCSD (California Planting Cotton Seed Distributer, now Bayer CropSience).

In 2002 Ron was diagnosed with liver failure and was placed on a liver transplant list, which he would be on for 13 years. Though the illness did not allow him to do a lot of physical activity required for farming Ron was not ready to retire. His brother-in-law, Richard Meyer, offered him a job at Meyer Civil Engineering and Ron learned drafting and surveying. The family continued to grow, with weddings and grandchildren being born. Ron and Gail were also able to do some traveling to New York, Texas, Montana, Yellowstone and Hawaii with friends. They enjoyed spending time with their family at Shaver and Huntington Lakes and Morro Bay and a road trip to New Mexico.

Eventually Ron was unable to work as his health continued to decline, and he retired. In 2015 he finally received a new liver. The transplant was successful, and it carried him through another 10 years of life on this earth. Ron had always said that if God wanted to take him to heaven, he was fine with that, he was ready, but if God wanted him to stay here a little longer to serve Him he was willing to do that, and that is what he did.

Those years brought many blessings, including more grandchildren, until there was a total of 8. This brought great joy to Ron. He was able to be there when each of them was born, and he loved them dearly. He loved playing with them and as they got older enjoyed watching them participate in sports, school activities, and other things they did. Ron loved spending time with his children and grandchildren. A trip with his brother on the Amtrack train to as far as Memphis and Chicago was a fun and memorable time.

Ron lived a full life. To summarize, he was an Adult Sunday School teacher and church league softball coach at Rosedale Bible Church for over 20 years. He sang in the choir, served as an elder, co-authored a novel, and enjoyed building furniture and even carved many large bears and other figures for his family and friends. He was the entertainer at Sunday School and birthday parties and an avid fan of the LA Rams, SF Giants, and the Lakers. He was a cowboy at heart, loving to be in the saddle when he had the opportunity. He also loved riding his Harley, taking trips with the MMC (Mennonite Motorcycle Club). He loved working in his yard and landscaping. He was a big help to Gail grocery shopping, cooking, and vacuuming. Most of all he was a loving husband, dad, grandpa, and friend to many. He was a follower of Jesus Christ and shared his faith with others.

When Ron recovered from his transplant he went to work for Hertz Rental Cars. When Covid hit and he could not be in a car with other people he decided to try Uber Eats. He enjoyed that job because he could help those who could not get out due to Covid. When the lockdown ended and the food delivery business slowed down, he went back to work for Hertz until he became too ill to work.

Ron was finding it difficult to get around, and when he was diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease it had already advanced to a critical stage, a condition that often happens because of a liver transplant. He went into UCLA on May 28 and on July 24 at 6:00 pm the angels carried him to be with Jesus, with Gail and his children at his bedside. Ron was well loved by his family and many friends. He will be greatly missed, but we are comforted knowing he is enjoying the wonderful blessings of heaven.

Surviving him are his wife of 51 years, Gail; children Brian and Kellie Neufeld, Matthew Neufeld and Cindy and Doug Houchin; grandchildren Hank, Annie and Lucy Neufeld, Bella and Eli Neufeld, and Caleb, Nathan and Cody Houchin; sister Carol Whaley and, brother Jerry Neufeld; his extended family, church family, coworkers and many friends.

Services for Ron will be held on Saturday, August 9, 2025, with a Graveside Service at 9:30 a.m. at Shafter Memorial Park, followed by a Memorial Service at 11:00 a.m. at Rosedale Bible Church, 16000 Rosedale Hwy., Bakersfield.  It was Ron's wish that everyone be invited to come and enjoy a hamburger in the church social hall following the service.

Memorial gifts in Ron's name may be made to The Mission at Kern County. themissionkc.org.