Duerksen, Abraham R. (1896-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Aug 28 p. 8

Birth date: 1896 Aug 6

text of obituary:

. . .

• Abraham R. Duerksen, 73, of South Walnut Street died Saturday morning at Bethel Deaconess Hospital. The funeral was conducted Tuesday afternoon at the Alexanderwohl Church near Goessel, with Rev. Aaron Epp in charge. A native of the Hillsboro community, Mr. Duerksen farmed there most of his life. In 1955 he and his wife moved to Bluffton, Ohio, where he was superintendent of the home for aged. They moved to Newton in 1962. Surviving in addition to the widow are sons Harold of Iowa City, Ia. and Roland of Oxford, Ohio; two daughters, Mrs. Willard Roupp of Hesston and Mrs. Orlando Schmidt of rural Hillsboro; 16 grandchildren, two brothers and four sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Sep 18 p. 11

text of obituary:

ABRAHAM R. DUERKSEN

Abraham R. Duerksen of Newton, Kan. was born Aug. 6, 1896 in Marion County to John J. and Maria Reimer Duerksen. He graduated from the Steinbach Elementary School. He attended the Goessel Preparatory School for two years and Bethel College Academy for one year.

He was baptized upon his confession of faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior on May 31, 1914 by Elder Heinrich Banman and received into the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, Goessel, Kan. He served as a trustee, Sunday school superintendent, Sunday school teacher and on various committees.

He was married to Katherine Klassen on May 8, 1924 with Elder Peter H. Unruh officiating. They lived on a farm northeast of Goessel until 1955. At that time they became houseparents of the Children's Home in West Liberty, Ohio. After nine months they transferred to the Mennonite Memorial Home in Bluffton, Ohio and there served as superintendent and matron for six years. These years of special service with the elderly and children became a very meaningful part of their life. In 1962 they moved to Newton, and he worked at odd jobs in his retirement. They were privileged to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in 1964 and their 45th in May 1969.

He was a loving husband and father. He loved children and they loved him. His sense of humor and good will made him a good stabilizer in the family.

He suffered his first heart attack in 1954. It was at that time when Psalm 37:5 became precious to him and became a guiding force in his life. His heart condition hampered his work somewhat thereafter, although he was able to live a normal life. He was hospitalized at the Bethel Deaconess Hospital on Aug. 19, 1969, and went to his eternal home on Aug. 23, having reached the age of 73.

Those remaining to cherish the memory of his life are his wife Katherine; two sons, Harold and wife Rosella of Iowa City, Iowa and Roland and wife Mary Oxford, Ohio; two daughters, Elda and husband Willard Roupp of Hesston and Erna and husband Orlando Schmidt of rural Hillsboro; 16 grandchildren; two brothers, Jacob R. of Reedley, Calif. and George R. of Henderson, Neb.; four sisters, Sara, Mrs. P. F. Quiring of Goessel, Agnes, Mrs. P. L. Schmidt of Goessel, Katherine, Mrs. David Harms of Newton, and Anna, Mrs. Albert Schmidt of Hillsboro; and many other relatives and friends. His parents, two brothers and three sisters preceded him in death. — Mrs. A. R. Duerksen and Family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1969 Sep 16 p. 553