Duerksen, Cornelius F. (1854-1946)

Christlicher Bundesbote obituary: 1947 Mar 18 p. 10

Birth date: 1854 Apr 1

text of obituary:

● Cornelius F. Duerksen, Sohn von Cornelius W. Duerksen und Sarah Franz Duerksen, wurde in Alexanderkrone, Südrußland, April 1854 geboren. Er starb den 10. Dezember, 1946 zu Newton, Kansas, im Alter von 92 Jahren. Getauft wurde er in 1873 auf das Bekenntnis seines Glaubens, von Aeltesten Jakob Buller und wurde Glied der Alexanderwohl Gemeinde in Rußland. Als diese Gemeinde nach Amerika auswanderte, kam auch er mit seinen Eltern und schloß sich der Alexanderwohl Gemeinde zu Goessel, Kansas, an. Später wurde er Glied der Korn, Oklahoma, Gemeinde, der Gotebo Ebenezer Gemeinde, und zuletzt der Ersten Mennonitengemeinde zu Newton. September 1880 wurde er von der Missionsbehörde der Allgemeinen Konferenz ordiniert für die Arbeit unter dem Indianervolk in Darlington, Oklahoma. November 1881 trat er mit Elisabeth Isaak in die heilige Ehe. Acht Kinder wurden ihnen geboren, zwei Söhne und sechs Töchter. Ein Sohn und zwei Töchter starben in früher Kindheit. In 1897 verlor er durch den Tod seine geliebte Gattin. In demselben Jahr fand er seine neue Gehilfin in Helena Ratzlaff von Korn, Oklahoma. In dieser Ehe wurden drei Söhne und sieben Töchter geboren, welche alle seinen Tod betrauern. In 1937 verlor er auch diese Gattin. Zwei Brüder und drei Schwestern sind ihm im Tode voran gegangen. Eine Schwester und vier Brüder überleben ihn. Unser Vater hatte ein aktives Leben. Er las viel und interessierte sich für vieles. Zwölf Jahre war er Schullehrer, nachdem wurde er Farmer. Seine Liebe zum Herrn und zur Gemeinde war groß. Schwachheit halber mußte er schon für längere Zeit daheim bleiben, doch war es ihm eine große Freude als vor etwa sechs Wochen er in die Kirche zur Feier des heiligen Abendmahls gehen durfte. Wenn in den Tagen seines Weilens im Hospital, er gefragt wurde wie es ihm erging, so kam die frohe Antwort: “Froh im Herrn.” Sein Scheiden war friedselig, wie es in dem Verse ausgedrückt ist:

“Endlich kommt Er leise,

Nimmt uns bei der Hand.
Führt uns von der Reise

Heim ins Vaterland.”

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Dec 12 p. 5

text of obituary:

. . .

— The aged Cornelius F. Duerksen, 92 years of age, passed away on Tuesday morning at the Bethel hospital. he had lived with a daughter, Mrs. D. F. Unruh, on East 17th street for the past four years. Funeral services are to be held at the First Mennonite church, of which he was a member, at l2:00 p. m. on Saturday with the pastor, Rev. D. J. Unruh, officiating. Mr. Duerksen, a retired farmer and teacher, was the father of 18 children, 15 of whom are still living. He is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, four half-brothers and one half-sister. He was born at Alexanderwohl, South Russia, on April 1, 1854.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1946 Dec 19 p. 3

text of obituary:

CORNELIUS F. DUERKSEN

Cornelius F. Duerksen, son of Cornelius W. and Sarah Franz Duerksen,was born in the village of Alexanderkrone in South Russia on April 1, 1854. He died at Newton, Kansas, Dec. 10, 1946, aged 92 years, eight months and nine days.

As a young man he was instructed in the principles of the Christian faith and in October, 1873, he was baptized on the confession of his faith in the Lord Jesus Christ by Elder Jacob Buller, and became a member of the Alexanderwohl Church.

When the Alexanderwohl congregation came to America he with his parents, came to America and was a member of the Alexanderwohl church at Goessel, Kansas. Later when the Begrtal Mennonite church was organized at Corn, Okla., he transferred his membership there.

In 1905 he and his family moved to Gotebo, Okla., where he became a member of the Ebenezer Mennonite church. This spring after careful deliberation he transferred his membership to the First Mennonite church at Newton, where he remained a member until his death.

On Sept. 28, 1880, he was ordained by the Foreign Mission Board of the General Conference of Mennonite Church to serve as a missionary teacher at the Indian school at Darlington, Okla. Here he served for approximately two years. On Nov. 6, 1881, he was united in marriage to Elizabeth Isaac of Goessel, Kansas. it was due to her ill health that they left the mission work about one year after their marriage.

To this union were born eight children — two sons and six daughters. One son and two daughters died in infancy. This union was severed through the death of Mrs. Duerksen on January 30, 1897.

On October 24, 1897, he was married to Helena Ratzlaff of Corn, Okla. To this union were born three sons and seven daughters, all of whom survive to mourn he death of their father. This second marriage was dissolved by the death of Mrs. Duerksen on March 8, 1937.

Three sisters and two brothers have preceded him in death, while one sister and four brothers remain. Fifteen children survive their father. They are Elizabeth, Mrs. D. F. Unruh, Newton; Anna, Mrs. J. P. Hayward, Salem, Oregon; Mrs. maria Froese, Newton; Sarah, Mrs. Hans Pallesen, Salem, Oregon; Peter J. Duerksen, Mountain Lake, Minnesota; Helen, Mrs. S. K. Gordon, San Antonio, Texas; Kathrin, Mrs. L. L. Taggert, Fort Cobb, Oklahoma; Justina, mrs. T. R. West, Wichita; Cornelius A. , Minco, Oklahoma; Benjamin A., Venezuela, So. America; John H., Oklahoma City; Martha, Mrs. S. R. Shaver, Oklahoma City; Linda Duerksen, St. Louis, Mo.; Susie, Mrs. Kenneth A. Snarr, Oklahoma City; Frieda Duerksen, Salem, Oregon. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.

Our father lived an active life, reading widely and showing an interest in many phases of life. For 12 years he served as a school teacher. The greater part of his life he was a farmer. Many years of his life were lived in Oklahoma.

After the death of his second wife he lived with different children, but in 1942 he came to newton where he made his home with his oldest daughter until the time of his late illness and death. He was greatly interested in the work of the church and had a warm love for the Lord Jesus Christ, his Saviour and Lord.

Even though he had been confined to his home almost entirely since last summer, he was privileged to attend the communion service of his church this fall, about six weeks before his death. When asked about his condition while in the hospital during his last days, he replied with a smile, "Happy in Jesus."

His home going was peaceful as expressed in the German verse:

Endlich kommt Er leise
Nimmt uns bei der hand
Fuehrt uns von der Reise,
Heim ins Vaterland.

— The bereaved family