Gerard “Jerry” Neufeld (1912-1980) established his funeral home in Elmhurst in the 1940s and provided his services to ensure the families of young servicemen who died in WWII received proper burials. In addition, he helped found the Newtown Civic Association, serving as both treasurer and president. He also co-founded the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce and the Elmhurst Lion's Club, where he also served as president. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the St. Bartholomew's Church Parish Council. He also served as president of the Elmhurst Memorial League and the Elmhurst Community Celebrations Commission, overseeing community events such as concerts in the parks and holiday gatherings.

A native of Elmhurst, Neufeld was one of ten children and received a degree in business from Fordham University. After earning his undertaker license, Neufeld opened a funeral parlor in 1940 with his business partner James Walters. From their location at 83-05 Broadway in Elmhurst, they served many families of fallen soldiers during World War II. In 1941, he married Margaret E. Rostick, and the couple remained in Elmhurst.

By 1949, the partnership had dissolved, and the business continued as Gerard J. Neufeld, Inc., operating from its Elmhurst location at 88-04 43rd Avenue. The site became the home for the Neufelds, and it was there that they raised their own family of ten children. In the late 1970s, Neufeld began to cede the business to his sons, Raymond and Joseph, who eventually assumed the day-to-day operations. Following the March 2020 shutdown, their funeral home received widespread media attention for its service to the Elmhurst community suffering from a historic number of deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A ceremony was held on August 10, 2024, at the triangle on the south end of Veterans Grove Park, at the juncture of 43rd and Whitney Avenues, to co-name the intersection as Gerald Neufeld Way in Neufeld’s honor. The site is located across the street from the funeral home that Neufeld founded and in the heart of the community he served.