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Duerksen, Gerhard R. (1898-1974)
Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1974 Dec 5 p. 11
Birth date: 1898 Sep 4
text of obituary:
GERHARD R. DUERKSEN
Gerhard R. Duerksen, son of John J. and Maria Reimer Duerksen, was born Sept. 4, 1898, in Hillsboro, Kan. He grew up in the Hillsboro community and attended the Steinbeck Elementary School. Later he also attended the Goessel Preparatory School for two years.
On May 13, 1917, he was baptized by Elder Peter H. Unruh and received into the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church of Goessel, Kan. In 1943 he transferred his membership to the Bethesda Mennonite Church at Henderson, Neb.
He was married to Anna Friesen on Jan. 23, 1934, by Rev. A. W. Friesen. This home was blessed with four children, one daughter and three sons.
During the first nine years of their life together, father and mother lived on a farm near Hillsboro. In 1943 they moved to the Henderson, Neb. community where they were again engaged in farming until 1965 when they retired.
On Oct. 25, 1974, he was hospitalized at the Henderson Community Hospital and went to his eternal home on Oct. 30. He reached the age of 76.
He enjoyed music and for many years sang in the church men's chorus. His courage, sense of humor, good will and strong Christian life made him a good example to the family.
He is preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters. Those remaining to cherish the memory of his life are his wife, Anna, three sons, Leo and wife Elaine of Henderson, Arvin and wife Linda of Bradshaw, and Willis of Polk, Neb.; one daughter, Deloris and husband Glenn Goertzen of Hampton, Neb.; 11 grandchildren; one brother, Jacob R. Duerksen and wife Christina of Newton, Kan.; four sisters, Sara and husband Peter F. Quiring of Goessel, Kan., Agnes, Mrs. P. L. Schmidt of Goessel, Katherine, Mrs. David Harms of Peabody, Kan., and Anna and husband Albert Schmidt of Hillsboro; and several brothers and sisters-in-law, John G. and Sarah Friesen, Bernhard G. and Agnes Friesen, Aaron and Helen Peters and Henry and Margaret Smith, all of Henderson.
