Duerksen, Henry John (1886-1973)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1973 Nov 16 p. 30

Birth date: 1886 Jan 09

text of obituary:

REV. HENRY JOHN DUERKSEN

On September 27 it pleased the Lord to take to himself Henry John Duerksen of Killarney, Man. He was born on January 9, 1886 to Johann P. and Helena (Neufeld) Duerksen of Elisabetthal, southern Russia. He spent his childhood there and in his youth became a member of the Mennonite church in Kalantarovka. A number of years later when the Mennonite Brethren church was organized in the area, he felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to follow the Lord in baptism by immersion and in 1922 he became a member there. He dearly loved the Lord and used every opportunity to witness for him

He gave approximately four years to medical aid service for his country during World War 1. From 1920 he had been preaching the Word of God and on October 1, 1933 he was ordained to the preaching ministry.

He was married to Mary Thiessen on October 19, 1919, a union which was blessed with three daughters and five sons, all of whom survive their father. The family came to Canada in 1926, living first at Fannystell, Man., and later at Wakopa. In 1935 they moved to Holmfield, where they farmed until their retirement in 1962. They lived in Killarney after their retirement. During his final illness he remained cheerful and stedfast in his faith.

He leaves to mourn five sons, John and wife Susan, Henry and wife Margaret, George and wife Jessie, Cornie and wife Lorraine, and David and wife Marion; three daughters, Kay, Helen (Mrs. Henry) Wiebe, and Mary (Mrs. Ed) Penner; all of them of Manitoba; and 27 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

The funeral was conducted from the Lake view Mennonite Brethren Church of Killarney on October 1 with Abe Neufeld the minister in charge. Gerhard Hildebrand and Pastor Adrian of Calvary Baptist Church of Killarney also preached.