Duerksen, David B. (1878-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 13 Oct 1960 p. 8

Birth date: 1878

text of obituary:

DAVID B. DUERKSEN

David Duerksen, son of John and Aganetha Balzer Duerksen, was born Jan. 1, 1878, in the village of Gnadenthal, South Russia, and died Sept. 3, 1960, in the Halstead, Kans., hospital. He reached the age of 82 years, eight months and three days.

Our father was the youngest of 14 children, all of whom have preceded him in death.

In 1878 he emigrated with his parents from Russia to Marion county, Kan. The family bought a farm six miles southeast of Hillsboro. Here he spent his youth and received a Christian education, and later inherited the home place.

In June, 1898, he was baptized upon his confession of faith by Elder Peter Balzer and joined the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church, where he remained a faithful member until his death.

On June 25, 1903, he joined in holy matrimony with Marie Friesen, a union which lasted 57 years. The marriage was blessed with six children, two sons and four daughters.

His chief hobby was gardening. He supplied the church with many bouquets of flowers. For a time he served the church as a song leader. The last 12 years he lived in Canton, but his last three months were spent with his daughter Rosa, before he entered the hospital.

He leaves to mourn his departure, his wife Maria, two sons, Arnold and wife of Plainview, Texas, and Elmer at the home in Hillsboro; four daughters, Olga of Kansas City, Rosa and husband of Halstead, Margaret and husband of Kinsley and Rubena and husband of Merced, Calif.; 16 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.