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Durksen, John (1923-2003)
(Created page with ""Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2003 Apr 11 p. 28 Birth date: 1923 Nov 9 text of obituary: <center><h3>JOHN DURKSEN</h3></center> John Durksen died Jan. 23. He was ...") |
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John Durksen died Jan. |
John Durksen died Jan. |
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23. He was born Nov. |
23. He was born Nov. |
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| − | 9, 1923 in |
+ | 9, 1923 in Alexanderthal, Ukraine to |
| − | derthal, Ukraine to |
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David and Sara |
David and Sara |
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Durksen. The family |
Durksen. The family |
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emigrated to Canada |
emigrated to Canada |
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when he was 1 1/2 |
when he was 1 1/2 |
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| − | and settled near |
+ | and settled near Arnaud, Man. He accepted the Lord as a young |
| − | naud, Man. He accept- |
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| − | . ed the Lord as a young |
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child. He came to cherish music in his teens. |
child. He came to cherish music in his teens. |
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He attended Winkler Bible School for 2 years, |
He attended Winkler Bible School for 2 years, |
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based on Eph. 2:8,9. He never wavered in his |
based on Eph. 2:8,9. He never wavered in his |
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faith. In 1947 the family moved to a farm |
faith. In 1947 the family moved to a farm |
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| − | near St. |
+ | near St. Catharines, Ont. John was invited to |
become church choir conductor and for the |
become church choir conductor and for the |
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| − | + | next 40 years either led the choir or sang in |
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| − | + | it. On Aug. 5, 1950 he married Lottie |
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Neufeld. He worked at GM but gave it up |
Neufeld. He worked at GM but gave it up |
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because it interfered with his church work. |
because it interfered with his church work. |
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| − | Son Bobby died in 1964 at age 11; this |
+ | Son Bobby died in 1964 at age 11; this became a time of deeper commitment to God. |
| − | came a time of deeper commitment to God. |
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In 1967 John and Lottie were ordained as |
In 1967 John and Lottie were ordained as |
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deacons in Scott St . MB Church, St. |
deacons in Scott St . MB Church, St. |
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Catharines. Later they served as deacons in |
Catharines. Later they served as deacons in |
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| − | Grantham MB Church, St. Catharines. In |
+ | Grantham MB Church, St. Catharines. In Niagara Falls (Ont.) Christian Fellowship, he |
| − | agara Falls (Ont.) Christian Fellowship, he |
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helped with music and they taught Sunday |
helped with music and they taught Sunday |
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| − | school, Bible studies and discipleship classes |
+ | school, Bible studies and discipleship classes. |
John held many jobs: farming, construction, |
John held many jobs: farming, construction, |
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trucking and driving school bus. He would |
trucking and driving school bus. He would |
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| − | settle down the students on the bus by in- |
+ | settle down the students on the bus by involving them in a sing-a-long. He and Lottie |
| − | volving them in a sing-a-Iong. He and Lottie |
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sang at Tabor and Pleasant Manors and led |
sang at Tabor and Pleasant Manors and led |
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| − | sing-a- |
+ | sing-a-longs at Tabor. The motto for their life |
| − | was Matt |
+ | was Matt. 6:33. Predeceased by son Bobby, |
| − | 1 |
+ | 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 |
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| − | + | Falls, Ga.; 9 grandchildren; 1 great-grandson; 3 brothers; 6 sisters. The funeral was |
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| − | London, Onto and Beth Gangel of Toccoa |
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| − | Falls, Ga.; 9 grandchildren; 1 great-grand- |
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| − | son; 3 brothers; 6 sisters. The funeral was |
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Jan. 27 in Grantham MB Church, with Bob |
Jan. 27 in Grantham MB Church, with Bob |
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Enns, Abe Neufeld and Stephen Mortley |
Enns, Abe Neufeld and Stephen Mortley |
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Latest revision as of 12:56, 31 October 2022
"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.
