Derksen, Anna Pankratz (1871-1969)

Mennonite Brethren Herald;; obituary: 1970 Jan 09 p.26

Birth date: 1871 Sep 10

text of obituary:

ANNA DERKSEN

At the very advanced age of 98 years, Mrs. Anna Derksen, late of the Sherbrook Nursing Home of Saskatoon, passed into the presence of her Saviour. She is survived by seven daughters and their families and two sons and their families.

She was born September 10, 1871 in the village of Nikolaifeld in South Russia. At the age of 14, she committed her life to the Lord and soon thereafter was baptized and received into the fellowship of the Mennonite Brethren Church. She remained in that fellowship for 84 years.

In 1891 on December 10 she was married to Gerhard G. Derksen by Rev. Jacob Richert. In 1905 she and her husband moved to Canada and settled in the Borden district north of Saskatoon. They were blessed with 13 children, ten girls and three boys, and all helped to make the family, strong, satisfying unit. The family circle was broken in 1933 when her husband went to be with the lord.

She was active in the work of the church, assisting her husband in the ministry of the diaconate and being especially helpful in the immigrations of the twenties. She also carried a great concern for the spiritual and material welfare of her family.

Her death occurred on October 13. Besides her husband, she was predeceased by three daughters, Sarah (Mrs. Paul Wiebe) in 1930, Margretha (Mrs. John Stobbe) in 1944, Anna (Mrs. Henry Block) in 1947, and one son, George Derksen, in 1962. She is survived by seven daughters, Justina (Mrs. P.P. Bergmann, Hepburn), Agnes (Mrs. J.B. Stobbe), Elisabeth (Mrs. Isaac Willems) and Mary (Mrs. Peter Wiens), all of Saskatoon, Ella (Mrs. isaac H. Block, Dalmeny), Susie (Mrs. J.l. Hamm, Borden), Tina (Mrs. Frank Peters, Terrace, B.C.) and two sons, John of Clearbrook, B.C. and Henry of Borden, Sask., as well as 80 grandchildren, 175 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.

The funeral for Mrs. Derksen was held from the Borden Mennonite Brethren Church with the pastor, Henry Gossen, and Rev. Otto Derksen of Lashburn, a grandson, ministering.