Duerksen, Peter F. (1867-1946)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Jan 2 p. 1

Birth date: 1867 Jul 20

text of obituary:

Pioneer Mennonite Educator and Publisher Passed Away Dec. 21

P. F. DUERKSEN TAUGHT IN EARLY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS IN MIDWEST

Bakersfield, Calif. — Peter F. Duerksen, one of the early Mennonite teachers in America, passed away Dec. 21, 1946, in the Bakersfield hospital. he was 79 years of age.

Mr. Duerksen will be remembered as one of the early teachers in various public and private schools in Kansas and Oklahoma, and as a faculty member of McPherson College, McPherson, Kansas. He was a charter member of the Mennonitische Lehrerverein.

Later he went into publication work, editing a local paper in Hillsboro, Kansas, the “Hillsboro Presse.” He also published the “Sonntagschul Bote” and the Sunday School quarterlies for the Mennonite Brethren conference.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1947 Feb 13 p. 3

text of obituary:

PETER F. DUERKSEN

“Lord, Thou has been our dwelling place in all generations . . . from everlasting to everlasting. Thou art God . . . and sayest, return ye children of men.”

God has called Peter F. Duerksen, son of Jacob J. and Katherine Funk Duerksen, to his eternal home. He was born July 20, 1867, at Alexanderthal, Russia, and departed this life December 21, 1946, at the Kern General hospital in Bakersfield, California, at the age of 79 years, five months and one day.

He is survived by two sons, five daughters, two sons-in-law and two daughters-in-law, four grandchildren, one brother, three sisters, and many relatives and friends. His wife and two children preceded him in death.

At the age of 17 he migrated with his parents to America and settled on a farm near Goessel, Kansas. Under the teaching of the church and the influence of a Christian home, he was convicted by the Holy Spirit of his lost condition and accepted Christ as his personal Savior. he was baptized by the Rev. Cornelius Wedel and became a member of the Mennonite church at Goessel, Kansas.

Early in life he felt the call to serve his Master in the capacity of teacher and worker with young people. In preparation for this work he attended McPherson College and later received the B. S. degree from the Kansas Wesleyan University.

For many years he was a teacher in the public schools of central Kansas, and held the position as superintendent at Lehigh and Durham. Later he taught in the Vorbereitungs Schule at Enid, and for several years served on the faculty of McPherson College.

He pursued his work with all his heart, and gave active support to every movement that advanced educational aims and methods. He welcomed the interest shown in the Deutsche Lehrerverein, of which he was a charger member.

Later he engaged in publication work, and served as editor of the Hillsboro Presse. He published the Sonntagsschul Bote and was the first to publish the Sunday School quarterlies for the Mennonite Brethren conference.

In his later years he resided in Miami, Florida, where he engaged in various types of work, mostly clerical, holding responsible positions with large manufacturing firms.

Last spring his health failed, and after careful examination the doctors soon diagnosed his ailment as cancer of the larynx. He sought medical aid in Miami, but had a longing to come to California, where he hoped to receive more personal attention from his nephews, Dr. A. W. Gaede, and his brother, Dr. M. S. Gaede.

Through the influence of Dr. Gaede, a member of the Bakersfield hospital staff, he was admitted to this institution in August. Here he received the best of medical attention and care from doctors and nurses. At first he seemed to rally, but it soon became apparent that his days were numbered.

Many were the hours he spent in communion with God, and he gave a clear testimony of an open door to the Heavenly home. He gratefully received every token of love and deeply appreciated all words of comfort and prayer offered by relatives and friends, who frequently visited him. With joy he would repeat such songs as “Keiner wird zu Schanden, welcher Gottes harrt,” “Mene Heimat is dort in der Hoeh” und “Auf ewig bei dem Herrn.”

On December 21 his longing was fulfilled, his prayer was answered, and he silently slipped away to be with the Lord, in the blessed hope of a glorious resurrection on that great day when all the dead in Christ shall rise. — The Bereaved.