Durksen, John (1923-2003)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2003 Apr 11 p. 28

Birth date: 1923 Nov 9

text of obituary:

JOHN DURKSEN

John Durksen died Jan. 23. He was born Nov. 9, 1923 in Alexanderthal, Ukraine to David and Sara Durksen. The family emigrated to Canada when he was 1 1/2 and settled near Arnaud, Man. He accepted the Lord as a young child. He came to cherish music in his teens. He attended Winkler Bible School for 2 years, where he rededicated his life to the Lord based on Eph. 2:8,9. He never wavered in his faith. In 1947 the family moved to a farm near St. Catharines, Ont. John was invited to become church choir conductor and for the next 40 years either led the choir or sang in it. On Aug. 5, 1950 he married Lottie Neufeld. He worked at GM but gave it up because it interfered with his church work. Son Bobby died in 1964 at age 11; this became a time of deeper commitment to God. In 1967 John and Lottie were ordained as deacons in Scott St . MB Church, St. Catharines. Later they served as deacons in Grantham MB Church, St. Catharines. In Niagara Falls (Ont.) Christian Fellowship, he helped with music and they taught Sunday school, Bible studies and discipleship classes. John held many jobs: farming, construction, trucking and driving school bus. He would settle down the students on the bus by involving them in a sing-a-long. He and Lottie sang at Tabor and Pleasant Manors and led sing-a-longs at Tabor. The motto for their life was Matt. 6:33. Predeceased by son Bobby, 1 brother and 1 sister; he is mourned by Lottie, daughters Carol Doerksen and Lisa Hildebrand of St. Catharines, Kathleen Eckert of London, Ont. and Beth Gangel of Toccoa Falls, Ga.; 9 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; 3 brothers; 6 sisters. The funeral was Jan. 27 in Grantham MB Church, with Bob Enns, Abe Neufeld and Stephen Mortley ministering.