Duerksen, Walter J. (1907-1980)

Wichita Eagle-Beacon obituary: 1980 Oct 27 p. 1

Birth date: 1907 Feb 21

Text of obituary:

Services Tuesday

WSU's Dean Emeritus Duerksen Is Dead at 73

By JOE GANDELMAN
Staff Writer

Walter J. Duerksen, who was credited with developing Wichita State University's nationally recognized music program and helping plan and develop the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, died Saturday night, apparently of a heart attack. He was 73.

Duerksen, for whom WSU's Duerksen Fine Arts Center was named in 1964, had a long and distinguished career in music on several fronts.

During his career he had been dean emeritus of the college of fine arts at WSU, received the Wichita Fine Arts Council Recognition Award in 1978, served on President Dwight D. Eisenhower's President's Music Committee and been listed in Who's Who in America.

Born in Enid, Okla., on Feb. 21, 1907, Duerksen attended Wichita grade schools and graduated from Wichita High School in 1926. He was graduated from Wichita University in 1931 with a degree in music education. A year later, he joined the faculty as band director and trombone instructor.

AT THAT TIME there were 60 music majors, taught by a faculty of nine. When he retired in 1972, there were more than 500 music majors, with a faculty of 65 and some part-time instructors.

In 1937, Duerksen got his master's degree from Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill. He did additional postgraduate work at Columbia University, The Julliard School and Northwestern. In 1938 he married Virginia Kilbourn.

He was named chairman of the Music Department in 1942. By 1961 he was dean of the College of Fine Arts. He was made distinguished university professor and dean emeritus ini 1970.

Duerksen led the drive to muster financial support and professional personnel for a symphony orchestra in Wichita. In 1949, he hired James P. Robertson to head the school's orchestra programs. The following year Robertson also became musical director of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, a position he retained for 26 years.

UNDER DUERKSEN, the university built a supportive relationship with public schools in Wichita and surrounding communities. One of his many projects was the planning of the Fine Arts Center, which was dedicated in 1957.

Duerksen was hailed by his colleagues during his lifetime and at his death.

In successfully nominating him for the 1978 Wichita Fine Arts Council Annual Recognition Award, Dean Gordon Terwilliger of the College of Fine Arts called him "a person of high intelligence, strong will, enlightened leadership, unflagging energy and an exceedingly well developed sense of humor . . . a formidable advocate of quality and exellence in the arts . . ."

ON SUNDAY, Clark Ahlberg, president of WSU, said, "Walter, more than any one individual, built the music program at WSU." He hailed Duerksen's "single-minded devotion to that effort."

To Dr. Howard Ellis, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts and a long-time friend and colleague of Duerksen's, he was "a towering figure in the field of music for 20 years."

Besides his wife, Virginia, survivors include a son, Walter Kilbourn Duerksen, of Norris, Tenn.; a daughter, Mary Duerksen Sklar, of Mainz, Germany; a brother, Harold, of Los Angeles; and a sister, Frieda Schooley, of Albuquerque, N. M.

A service will be held 4:30 p. m. Tuesday, at the Fairmount United Church of Christ. A memorial in his name has been established for a fund in music with the Wichita State University Endowment Association.