Doerksen, Bernhard (1891-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1969 May 30 p. 27

Birth date: 1891 Nov 15

text of obituary:

BERNHARD DOERKSEN

It pleased the Lord to call to himself Bernhard Doerksen of Coaldale, Alberta on May 1, 1969. Funeral services were held on May 6, in the Coaldale Mennonite Brethren Church with D. J. Pankratz officiating, and Ben Doerksen, son of the deceased and instructor at Bethany Bible Institute, also speaking.

Bernhard Doerksen was born in Fishau, Taurien, Russia, on November 15, 1891. At the age of 13 he lost his mother and after her death the family moved to Crimea. It was here that he accepted the Lord Jesus Christ and joined the fellowship of the Evangelical Church. In 1925 he married Elizabeth Franz. Their union was blessed with seven daughters and five sons of which the eldest son predeceased him during childhood. The Doerksens emigrated to Canada in 1930 and resided in Coaldale.

On March 14, he was admitted to the Coaldale Municipal Hospital and after several weeks of serious illness he passed away at the age of 77. His passing is mourned by his wife, seven daughters, four sons, two daughters-in-law, four sons-in-law and 18 grandchildren.