Duerksen, Anna Adrian (1878-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 28 Jul 1960 p. 5

Birth date: 1878

text of obituary:

Two Deaths Reported At Buhler, Kan.

Buhler, Kan. — Two life-long residents of this community — Mrs. Anna Duerksen and Mrs. Justina Ratzlaff — died last week.

Mrs. Duerksen, 82, passed away July 19 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Hutchinson after a five-week illness. Funeral services were held July 22 at the Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church, Rev. George Peters officiating.

Survivors include two sons, Pete of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Ben of Buhler; three daughters, Mrs. Alvin Kroeker of Corn, Okla., Mrs. Alvina Machgan of Buhler and Mrs. Ernest Schroeder of Inman; three brothers, P. P. Adrian and A. F. Adrian, both of Newton, and Jake Adrian of Wichita; one sister, Mrs. D. C. Kroeker of Corn, Okla.; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Mrs. Ratzlaff, 61, died suddenly July 20 at her home. The funeral was held July 23 at the Hoffnungsau Mennonite Church, Rev. Lamont Woelk in charge.

Survivors include the widower, Abe; one son, Elmer of Moundridge; one daughter, Mrs. Vernon Buller of Buhler; one brother, D. A. Enns of Guymon, Okla.; three sisters, Mrs. J. A. Ratzlaff of Moundridge, Mrs. D. C. Regier and Mrs. H. D. Regier, both of Buhler, and six grandchildren.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1960 Oct 13 p. 8

text of obituary:

ANNA ADRIAN DUERKSEN

Anna Adrian Duerksen was born to Peter and Susanna Friesen Adrian on Feb. 8, 1878, in Harvey County, Kan.

Her childhood days were spent in this county, 10 miles east of Buhler, close to the Alta Mill. Here she received her elementary training and later attended the German department of McPherson College.

In her early youth she recognized her lost condition and accepted the Lord as her personal Savior. Upon confession of faith, she was baptized by Elder Abraham Schellenberg on Sept. 8, 1899, and was received into the Ebenezer M. B. church east of Buhler.

On Jan. 25, 1906, she was married to Jacob C. Duersken [sic Duerksen]. They settled on a farm near Buhler. In 1916 the family moved to Buhler and she resided there until her last days. Their marriage span lasted for almost 54 years. They were blessed with six children, of which one daughter, Rachel, died in infancy.

Last year in October after a brief illness, her husband was taken from her side. For years she had not known robust health, and the last two years she developed a heart ailment which left her very dependent upon others. Soon after her husband's departure she was taken to the Sunshine Home in Buhler. Early in June she suffered a light stroke, after which she was taken to St. Elizabeth hospital in Hutchinson. After five weeks and five days in the hospital, she quietly slipped away to be with the Lord, at the age of 82 years, five months and 11 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure, two sons, Peter A. of Pittsburgh, Pa., Benjamin of Buhler; three daughters, Mrs. Alvin Kroeker of Corn, Okla., Mrs. Alvina Machgan of Buhler, and Mrs. Ernest Schroeder of Inman; 14 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, one sister and three brothers. Her husband, one daughter, one grandson, two sisters, and two brothers preceded her in death.