Doerksen, John Peter (1887-1967)

Mennonite Brethren Herald obituary: 1967 Sep 15 p. 18

Birth date: 1887 Nov 28

text of obituary:

JOHN PETER DOERKSEN

John Peter Doerksen was born November 28, 1887 in Lindenau, South Russia. He served in the Forestry Service Camps in Old Berjansk, 1910-12. On May 14, 1913 he was married to Katharina Quiring. In November of the same year they both accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour and ten years later, in 1923 they submitted to water baptism by immersion and were accepted into the Mennonite Brethren Church. They were able to spend 54 years in a happy and blessed married life.

In 1914, at the outbreak of World War I, he was enlisted so he immediately volunteered to serve in the Red Cross. In 1917, while still in the service of the Red Cross, he contracted a lung disease, lying critically ill for three months. Because of his faithful services, he was in turn given the best care and attention available and through the Grace of God he was able to recover.

On May 11, 1926, he (with his family) came to St. Anne, Manitoba. From there they moved to Saskatchewan for one year and then to Alberta for approximately 17 years. In 1947 they transferred to Chilliwack.

In 1928, in Steinbach, he and his wife were ordained into the diaconate service of the church. He was active in the affairs of the church as long as his health permitted.

During his last six years he underwent seven operations and, for most of the last year he was almost totally bedridden. It was a difficult time, but the Lord gave grace and strength for the long hours of suffering, as well as for faithful nursing care. He kept the faith to the end. He passed out of this life very quietly and peacefully on August 18, 1967, at the age of 79.

He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife and six children, Betty (Mrs. David Schultz), Agnes and Jacob, all of Chilliwack; Katherine of Vineland, Ontario, John of Abbotsford, and Peter of Alexander, Manitoba; 22 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Two children have predeceased him in death, a daughter of one year and a son of three years.

The funeral was held on August 21, in the East Chilliwack (B.C.) Church, Rev. G. Thielman and Rev. J. Bergen officiating. Rev. Thielman greeted the mourners with the words from Heb. 13:5-6 "I will never leave you nor forsake you ... "Using 1 Pet. 1:3-9 he spoke words of comfort, pointing to the living hope that is ours through regeneration, and that the deceased also had rejoiced in. Despite temptation and suffering, this living hope will bring us through to glory to the inheritance incorruptible and undefiled.

Rev. J. Bergen, speaking in German, used John 19:25 -27 as his text. He pointed out that in this text we have an example of the living hope. We have a living Redeemer, and through faith in him we too have life. He gives us a "quiet conscience" (Job 27:6), and guarantees a resurrection.

A double quartet sang, "When I am Standing on Jordan's Shore", "Dort uber jenem Sternenmeer", and "Herrliches liebliches Zion". Rev. P. P. Doerksen (brother of the deceased) officiated at the graveside. And thus he was laid to rest, his family anticipating a reunion with him in glory. "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling and to protect you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory ... dominion ... power."