Duerksen, Jake (1918-1935)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1935 Apr 3 p. 1

Birth date: 1918

text of obituary:

Four Injured, One Fatally, in Automobile Collision at Hillsboro.

Hillsboro, Kansas, April 6. — Jake Duerksen, 17, son of C. C. Duerksen was instantly killed about 10:30 Saturday night, four and a half miles west of Hillsboro on the trail when a truck driven by Jacob Steinle of Lehigh, struck the Duerksen car which was parked on the side of the road.

Mr. Duerksen and his two sons and daughters had brought another daughter, Miss Tina Duersen, to Hillsboro early Saturday evening in order that Miss Tina might help at the Hospital Sunday. The rest of the family attended church services while here and were on their way home when the accident happened.

About four and a half miles west of town the left rear tire of the Duerksen car went down and they pulled to the side of the road to change tires. Mr. Duerksen and son Irvin were holding a flashlight and other son, Jake, was changing the tire. Suddenly the lights of a car coming from the east appeared. Mr. Duerksen waved the flashlight to let the driver know they were there. The approaching car came closer and when right upon them the Duerksens saw that the driver was going to hit their car. The men started to run to get out of the way but the front of the truck caught Jake and threw his body against the rear of their car and killed him instantly. The father and the other son were knocked down as the Durerksen car passed over them and Mr. Duerksen suffered a broken leg. Irvin got out with just a few scratches. The daughters were seated in the car and when the car overturned they were bruised and cut by broken glass.

Mr. Steinle, driver of the truck, was badly shaken up and cut in the accident.

Just what caused the driver of the truck to fail to see the car is not known. Both the truck and car were badly damaged.

Funeral services for the young man were held in the M. B. Church Wednesday afternoon and interment in the local cemetery. — Hillsboro Star.