Derksen, Anna Froese (1895-1974)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1974 Sep 20 p. 31

Birth date: 1895 Oct 09

text of obituary:

ANNA DERKSEN

On August 16, the spirit of a beloved wife mother, grandmother and great grand mother, Mrs. Anna Derksen, followed the course described graphically by Isaiah, she "mounted up with wings as eagles" to be ever present with the Lord. The death occurred at the Brandon (Man.) General Hospital. At that final moment her husband Henry Derksen was with her along with daughters Olga, Agnes, Verna and daughter in-law Olga.

Like Paul, she had run the race. Anna Derksen had kept the most important thing in life-the faith. Not only had she kept it but she had shared it with others too.

Today all of Anna's living children, Helen and her husband John Goertzen, Olga of Winnipeg, Agnes of Brandon; five sons and their wives: Henry and Elizabeth of Main Centre, Sask., Abe and Olga, Peter and Verna of Alexander, Man., Cornelius and Margaret and George and Dorothy of Winnipeg, walk in the faith she shared.

Anna's faith and wisdom were not qualities that developed over a few short years They were forged and tempered over a three quarter century time span as God tested her faith as by fire time after time. Born at Steinfeld, South Russia, on October 9, 1895 to Cornelius and Helena Froese, Anna enjoyed a happy childhood together with her two sisters and four brothers. She was married to Henry Derksen on July 18, 1918.

In 1919 she accepted Christ as her Saviour and upon confession of faith was baptised and joined the Mennonite Brethren church.

Life in revolution-torn Russia was not easy for Henry and Anna. Their firstborn, Tina, died at 18 months. Later, a son, Cornelius, passed away in infancy. It was largely through her faith and wisdom that the family came to Canada in 1926.

They came first to Arnaud, Manitoba, and then two years later moved to Khedive, Sask. After about 20 years of almost impos sible conditions, encompassing the Depres sion and World War II, Anna realized her heart's desire in moving the family to Alexander, Manitoba in 1946. There she and Henry and the family settled in for the happiest years of her life. She was especially thankful to God for the church and the fellowship with other Christians in the Alexander area. In 1967 she and her husband moved to Brandon.

In 1968 the family was privileged to celebrate the golden anniversary of their marriage. Finally, on June 30 of this year, as if by divine providence, the family celebrated a homecoming and their father's 80th birth day. The actual date is however August 28. On this occasion, Anna was able for the last time to listen to special music played and sung by her grandchildren and great grand children. She leaves behind five grandsons, 14 granddaughters, five great grandsons and two great granddaughters. She is also survived by her older brother, Cornelius Froese of Herbert, Sask.; her younger sister in Russia; and several nephews and nieces. Throughout the years she could often be heard humming in her dusky unpretentious voice one of her favourite hymns, which was also the last prayer she spoke on Tuesday, August 13: "So nimm denn meine Haende und fuehre mich, bis an mein seelig Ende, und ewiglich. Ich kann allein nicht gehen, nicht einen Schritt. Wo du wirst gehen und stehen, da nimm mich mitt."

Funeral services for Anna Derksen were held on Tuesday, August 20, from the Brandon Mennonite Brethren Church, with Rev. Henry Willms and Rev. Peter J. Doerksen, officiating.