Doerksen, David M. (1891-1962)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1962 Jul 19 p. 8

Birth date: 1891 Dec 10

text of obituary:

REV. DAVID DOERKSEN

Our loving husband and father, David M. Doerksen, the son of Martin and Maria Doerksen, was born on a farm near Inman, Kansas on Dec. 10, 1891. His father passed away when he was four years old and at the age of six he moved with his mother to Jansen, Neb. where he spent his boyhood days. It was at Jansen that he recognized his lost condition and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Savior. He was baptized in1909 and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church.

On March 13, 1921, he was united with Rosie Wiebe in holy matrimony at Jansen, Neb. This union, which lasted 41 years, two months and 23 days, was blessed with four children. Two children died in infancy. Here at Jansen the family spent 10 years on a farm. Our father had attended Tabor College and so he served as a school teacher, minister of the gospel, and also farmed.

Our father was ordained as a minister of the gospel at Jansen and after serving the church there for a number of years we moved to Madrid, Neb. in 1931. Here our father served as assistant to the pastor and also as pastor of the church for several years. In 1951 we moved to Reedley, Cali. where we had the privilege of building a new home and spending the last 11 years together. All these years our father has been a Sunday School teacher and has helped along in the church.

He had a friendly optimistic disposition and made many friends wherever we lived. He appreciated his neighbors and his fellow ministers, and was a real inspiration to many people. To us as a family he was a praying father who showed us the way of salvation.

Our father enjoyed comparatively good health. However, in the last few years he had some heart irregularities. Wednesday morning, June 6, 1962 he was suddenly summoned to the Great Beyond. He reached the age of 70 years, five months and 26 days. We will miss our father greatly but we also know that he has gone to be with the Lord.

Those who mourn his departure are his widow, Mrs. Rosie Doerksen of Reedley; one daughter, Ruth, Mrs. Earl Reimer of Reedley; one son, Harold of Madrid, Neb.; one son-in-law; one daughter-in-law; six grandchildren; one sister, Gertrude, Mrs. J. B. Ratzlaff, and one brother, George M. Doerksen, both of Reedley; and two half brothers, Willie and Isaac Loewen of Meade, Kansas. — The Family.