Derksen, David (1914-1980)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1980 Mar 14 p. 32

Birth date: 1914 Oct 05

text of obituary:

DAVID DERKSEN

Vancouver on February 7 after an operation. He was 65. He was born on October 5,1914 in the Caucasus region of southern Russia to John and Louise Derksen. In 1924 he came to Canada with his parents, arriving first in Rosthern, Sask. In February, 1925 they moved to Gnadenthal. Man., and after three years they were attracted to Yarrow, B.C., where they became some of the first Mennonite settlers of that community. In 1935 David accepted the Lord as his Saviour and in the same year he was baptized by John A. Harder and accepted into the Yarrow Mennonite Brethren Church. In 1934 he married Margaret Thiessen, a marriage blessed with six children. He was a willing and active worker and enjoyed participating in church activities. For over 17 years he was the technician on a German radio broadcast produced by the Yarrow church, Botschaft des Friedens (Message of Peace). In 1971 he and his wife moved to Clearbrook and joined the King Road Mennonite Brethren Church. He is survived by his wife Margaret; and six children, John of Surrey, David of Courtney, Deloris (Mahoney) of Vancouver, Ronald of Fairview, Alta., Eleanor (Gunther) of Yarrow, and Marlene, at home; 11 grandchildren; as well as many relatives and friends. The funeral was conducted from the Yarrow Church on February 11 with Peter C. Penner, David Friesen and A.L. Klassen ministering.