Duerksen, Mary Schmidt (1894-1930)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1930 May 14 p. 4

Birth date: 1894 Oct 8

text of obituary:

Mary Duerksen

My dear wife, Mary Duerksen, daughter of Mrs. John P. Schmidt, was born October 8, 1894 in Marion Co., Kansas. When yet a little girl she suffered much of rheumatism and heart trouble. As soon as she felt better she was of good cheer and sang her favorite songs. After she had finished the public school she attended the Preparatory School at Goessel, Kansas. She joined a class in Bible instruction and was baptized upon the confession of her faith on the 31. day of May, 1914, by Rev. Heinrich Banman and joined the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church. In 1919 the 21. day of November she married Daniel Duerksen. This union was blessed with three children, two daughters and one son. For 10 years, 3 months and 7 days by the grace of God she shared with her husban's [sic]joy and sorrow. She had a calm and sincere disposition. During her last days she put her trust in God knowing that whatever would come to her would come under Divine direction. In Faith she was childlike and in trust firm and mature. She was sick twice before this year and each time entered the hospital for treatment. On April 22 she entered the hospital again and was operated on for a complicated rupture the next day, April 23, at which time her appendix was also removed. Her condition at first seemed normal but soon complications set in and all the care of the doctor and the nurses was of no avail. She died April 28, 1930 at 10:30 p.m. in the Bethesda Hospital, Goessel, Kansas, at the age of 35 years and 6 months. She held her faith in her Redeemer Jesus Christ to the last. Some of the deep experiences which prepared her to put her trust in God were the death of her father in her 14th year and the death of her mother-in-law. Her parting is a sad experience for us but we are comforted to know that she is at home with the Lord.

Daniel Duerksen and family.

Funeral services were held at which messages of comfort were given by the following brethren at the Alexanderwohl church on Sunday, May 4, Rev. C. C. Wedel, Text: Rev. 14.13; Rev. P. H. Unruh, text: Rev. 3.12 and 22.11; Rev. Peter Bulelr [sic Buller], Ps. 31.15 and 16.