Duerksen, Susanna Quiring (1880-1960)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jan 5 p. 8

Birth date: 1880 Jul 23

text of obituary:

MRS. JOHN R. DUERKSEN

Susanna Quiring Duerksen, daughter of Franz and Susanna Quiring, was born on July 23, 1880, north of Goessel, Kan., and passed to her reward Dec. 26, 1960, at the age of 80 years, five months and three days.

She was baptized and received into the fellowship of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite church as a young girl. Later she spent about nine years teaching in the rural schools near Goessel and Hillsboro. Preceding her marriage to John R. Duerksen, on Aug. 22, 1912, she took a special two-year missionary nursing course in preparation for service on the Hopi Indian mission field in northern Arizona, where she and her husband served nearly 20 years.

In 1932 they retired from mission work and settled on a farm near Limon, Colo., after which she accompanied her husband in his call to serve churches, first in Kingman, Kan., and later at Bessie, Okla. In 1942 they came to Newton and from then on made their church home at the First Mennonite church. In 1957 they moved to Hesston to live with their daughter and husband, Mr. and Mrs. Evan Oswald.

For the past eight years she has been in failing health, suffering from arthritis, and has been an invalid for about six years, during which time she patiently bore her suffering, busying herself with needle work and reading as long as her eyesight permitted it.

Survivors, besides her devoted husband of the home, include one son, John of Hesston; three daughters, Ruth (Mrs. Lorne Schmitt) of Minden, Ont., Martha (Mrs. Evan Oswald) of Hesston, and Miss Marie Duerksen, missionary in Janjgir, India; two brothers, Peter F. Quiring of Marion and John Quiring of Newton; two sisters, Helen (Mrs. Adolf Buhler) of Cunningham and Mrs. Mary Graves of Newton, and nine grandchildren. One brother, Henry, and one sister, Kathryn (Mrs. Jake Franzen), preceded her in death.

Funeral services were held Dec. 29, at the First Mennonite Church in Newton, in charge of Rev. Arnold Epp, assisted by Rev. Peter B. Wiebe of Hesston. Burial was in Greenwood cemetery, Newton.

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The Mennonite obituary: 1961 Jan 31 p. 79

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Newton Kansan obituary: 1960 Dec 27

text of obituary:

Mrs. John R. Duerksen

HESSTONœMrs. John R. Duerksen, 80, died Monday evening at her home in Hesston. She was born July 23, 1880 near Goessel, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Franz Quiring. On Aug. 22, 1912 she married John R. Duerksen who survives.

After their marriage they served as missionaries in Arizona for 20 years. They lived for about five years on a farm in Colorado. The Rev. Mr. Duerksen also served churches at Kingman, Kansas and in Oklahoma returning to Newton in 1942. Mrs. Duerksen had been an invalid for about six years. They moved to Hesston four years ago.

Survivors besides her husband of the home included one son, John, of Hesston, three daughters, Mrs. Lorne (Ruth) Schmitt, of Minden, Ontario, Canada, Mrs. Evan (Martha) Oswald, of Hesston and Miss Marie Duerksen, missionary in Janjgir, India; two brothers, Peter F. Quiring, of Marion and John Quiring, of Newton, two sisters, Mrs. Mary Graves, of Newton and Mrs. Adolf (Helen) Buhler, of Cunningham, Kansas, also nine grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a. m., Thursday at the 1st Mennonite Church in Newton, with the Rev. Arnold Epp and the Rev. Peter Wiebe officiating. The body will like in state at the Miller Funeral Home in Goessel Wednesday evening or at the church after 9 a. m. Thursday.