Family
Sometimes its easy to sit back and say "My dad's side of the family is Mennonite" and think that that means a simple farming heritage. The reality is far more complex than that. My grandmother recently emailed me the text of the eulogy recently given for her uncle. I never met him, but my great-grandfather (her father, his brother) passed away when I was about six, and I have clear, fond memories of him.
These are a few excerpts from the eulogy:
THE LIFE STORY OF JACOB DERKSEN
as prepared by his children
Our father, Jacob Martin Derksen, was born on August 28, 1910, in Schoensee, Ukraine, the third of five children of Martin & Anna Duerksen. The following year, in 1911, the family, which at this time included Dad and his older siblings Henry and Margaret, moved north east to Siberia where a new Mennonite settlement had formed and where his brother John and youngest sister Anna would be born. Dad well remembered their first home there - a sod house. The young Jakob enjoyed school. He loved music, and quickly learned to sing folk songs in both German and Russian. As soon as he could, he joined the church choir. As on most farms, young boys had to help with the livestock. Dad liked this responsibility and developed a great love for animals, especially horses. In his idle hours he liked to escape to nature’s wild places where he would sit among the wildflowers for hours, watching and listening to and trying to identify the many different birds. Nothing pleased him more than sitting on the river's edge, watching for fish and frogs. Dad and his brothers became excellent swimmers and spent many enjoyable hours practicing their strokes in the river near their home.
In 1916 tuberculosis took his mother as it did so many in that time. His father remarried soon thereafter and the family carried on. But when the disease killed his father 7 years later, his stepmother Maria (nee Wiens) became the sole caregiver for this family. Dad was 13 years old.
The Russian Revolution which had begun in 1917, a year after his mother’s death, brought both tyrannical government and anarchy to the lives of most the people of Russia. The conditions of life became very difficult for the Derksen family. The future in Russia looked grim. Rumours circulated about the possibility of emigrating to Canada. His stepmother, after discussion with the family and community leaders, decided her family should join other Mennonite families and leave Russia for Canada. All their belongings were sold at auction. Dad choked back the tears as a stranger harnessed and led away his favourite horse. The family left the village for Slovgrod sixty miles north. After three months of fighting bureaucracy and boredom, they boarded a train for Moscow. Dad retained some fond memories of their sojourn there. The boys explored the beautiful old city and even visited the zoo. When their papers were ready, they reboarded the train and went on to the city of Riga in Latvia. There they got on a small ship which took them to England where they caught the Matogoma for Canada.
The crossing was stormy and cold. The weeks seemed endless. They finally entered the harbour at St. John, New Brunswick on November 24, 1926. The CPR train took them west, far west to the hamlet of St. Elizabeth in Manitoba. Smiling and expectant faces greeted them. Maria’s kinfolk had preceded them. The family found temporary lodging with Uncle Peter Heinrichs. Dad immediately started going to school. But the family needed money, so the frivolity of education was put aside in favour of a paycheck. He found work on various farms in the area. On one of them he suffered a severe accident. The horse pulling the plough he was guiding bolted. Somehow his leg had become entangled in the plough and the horse dragged him a long distance. Dad cried out to God to save him, and promised to serve Him for the rest of his life. The horse finally stopped. Dad was rescued and slowly recovered after lying flat on his back for the next 6 weeks. The accident left him with one leg 1/2 inch shorter than the other. After that, he clearly informed the women who hemmed his pants of this important fact. Since he loved animals, he never said a rude word about the horse.
Dad attended young people's functions at church regularly and went to Catechism classes. In June, 1930, he was baptized upon his confession of faith. He believed that whoever opened his heart to God and was obedient to Him was acceptable to Him. God looks at the heart, and the heart only. Dad had little patience for petty arguments about slight, insignificant differences in Biblical interpretation.
***
One pleasant evening in 1936, at a young people's party, he met Agatha Driedger. He was 26 years old. His eyes twinkled. He had fallen in love. Courtship and engagement followed, and then marriage. A June wedding, June 3, 1939. The depression was over. A new war was beginning. Jakob and Agatha were beginning married life. Their first home was on Concession 2 near Ruthven. Rudy was born there in 1940. In 1941, they rented a farm on Concession 10 of Gosfield North. Here Mary Lou was born in 1943 and Linda in 1946. In February, 1949, they bought their first farm - the neighbouring 50 acre Scratch place. The future looked bright. But in May of that same year, our mother fell ill. Her suffering was brief. She died August 23 in an Ann Arbor, Michigan hospital. The cause was acute leukemia. This was a very difficult time for Dad. Grief. A young family. Great economic stress. He hired Mrs. Olga Hamm to care for the house and the children so he would be free to do the farmwork. He found strength in Psalm 62, 1 & 2. "I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for Him to rescue me. He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my defence. I shall not be greatly moved."
On a visit to relatives in Winnipeg in the fall of 1951, Dad met Sara Krahn. They married in January, 1952. Dad brought his new city wife home to become our new mother. Her entry into our lives was unforgettable. The door opened and there she stood. We stared in awe. She was wearing high heels and a fancy, green taffeta dress. It took very little time for us children to come to love her. Soon we called her "Mom". Although she had been a city girl, she soon adapted to hard farm work and was a real source of strength and encouragement to our father. One thing our parents always agreed on was to look up when things were down.
***
In April, 1984, Dad and Mom retired from farming, had an auction and moved to Alderton Street in Leamington where they spent seven very enjoyable years together. Here neighbours often stopped to admire Dad's beautiful roses and flourishing garden. Dad and Mom enjoyed socializing with neighbours and friends. Dad also received much pleasure playing guitar in his music group, the Menno Musicians. Mother Sara passed away in September, 1991. Dad was alone again. He lived on his own in the house and tried to carry on as best he could, inviting friends and relatives for coffee and visits. But caring for his large home became more and more difficult, and in May 2002 Dad made the decision to sell the house and move into Pickwick Apartments. Dad always faced reality with great frankness. When his health began to fail the following year, he realized he couldn't live on his own anymore. He made the move to Erie Glen Retirement Home where he thoroughly enjoyed his large room, the caring staff and many wonderful new friends. Unfortunately, after one year, Dad fell and broke his hip. While recovering in hospital, he told his family that he couldn't go back. He knew more nursing care was required. In August, 2004, Dad moved into the Mennonite Home where he has spent his last years and days. We are grateful for the warmth, compassion and excellent care of the staff and the many activities and programs in which Dad was able to participate. He always enjoyed music and especially enjoyed the special music groups that performed at the Home. Staff always rotated different CD's from his collection onto his player so he was able to listen to his favorite music. Dad was always very sociable and this continued even in the Home. This was evident by the great interest he showed in the personal lives of the staff. Many a staff member was greeted in the morning with a song. They seemed to appreciate his great sense of humour and pleasant demeanour.
In the last few years, Dad's health gradually declined. Macular degeneration robbed him of his sight. More and more he had to give up his independence. Although this was very difficult for him, he knew he needed to resign himself to this and never complained. The last few months became ever more difficult. By last week Dad was unable to take food or water. He became weaker. On Wednesday evening at 7:40 p.m., surrounded by his dear sister and adoring children, Dad made his final journey to his eternal home. Our father has been a true example of strength and courage to us and he always carried on and tried to make the best of his situation. His faith in God and his determination to live out that faith practically, made him the man of integrity and dignity whom we were proud to call our father. He will be greatly missed by his son Rudy and wife, Reta, daughter Mary Lou and husband, Herb Enns and daughter Linda and husband, Rudy Konrad. He also leaves to mourn nine loving grandchildren with spouses and 17 great grandchildren.
These are a few excerpts from the eulogy:
THE LIFE STORY OF JACOB DERKSEN
as prepared by his children
Our father, Jacob Martin Derksen, was born on August 28, 1910, in Schoensee, Ukraine, the third of five children of Martin & Anna Duerksen. The following year, in 1911, the family, which at this time included Dad and his older siblings Henry and Margaret, moved north east to Siberia where a new Mennonite settlement had formed and where his brother John and youngest sister Anna would be born. Dad well remembered their first home there - a sod house. The young Jakob enjoyed school. He loved music, and quickly learned to sing folk songs in both German and Russian. As soon as he could, he joined the church choir. As on most farms, young boys had to help with the livestock. Dad liked this responsibility and developed a great love for animals, especially horses. In his idle hours he liked to escape to nature’s wild places where he would sit among the wildflowers for hours, watching and listening to and trying to identify the many different birds. Nothing pleased him more than sitting on the river's edge, watching for fish and frogs. Dad and his brothers became excellent swimmers and spent many enjoyable hours practicing their strokes in the river near their home.
In 1916 tuberculosis took his mother as it did so many in that time. His father remarried soon thereafter and the family carried on. But when the disease killed his father 7 years later, his stepmother Maria (nee Wiens) became the sole caregiver for this family. Dad was 13 years old.
The Russian Revolution which had begun in 1917, a year after his mother’s death, brought both tyrannical government and anarchy to the lives of most the people of Russia. The conditions of life became very difficult for the Derksen family. The future in Russia looked grim. Rumours circulated about the possibility of emigrating to Canada. His stepmother, after discussion with the family and community leaders, decided her family should join other Mennonite families and leave Russia for Canada. All their belongings were sold at auction. Dad choked back the tears as a stranger harnessed and led away his favourite horse. The family left the village for Slovgrod sixty miles north. After three months of fighting bureaucracy and boredom, they boarded a train for Moscow. Dad retained some fond memories of their sojourn there. The boys explored the beautiful old city and even visited the zoo. When their papers were ready, they reboarded the train and went on to the city of Riga in Latvia. There they got on a small ship which took them to England where they caught the Matogoma for Canada.
The crossing was stormy and cold. The weeks seemed endless. They finally entered the harbour at St. John, New Brunswick on November 24, 1926. The CPR train took them west, far west to the hamlet of St. Elizabeth in Manitoba. Smiling and expectant faces greeted them. Maria’s kinfolk had preceded them. The family found temporary lodging with Uncle Peter Heinrichs. Dad immediately started going to school. But the family needed money, so the frivolity of education was put aside in favour of a paycheck. He found work on various farms in the area. On one of them he suffered a severe accident. The horse pulling the plough he was guiding bolted. Somehow his leg had become entangled in the plough and the horse dragged him a long distance. Dad cried out to God to save him, and promised to serve Him for the rest of his life. The horse finally stopped. Dad was rescued and slowly recovered after lying flat on his back for the next 6 weeks. The accident left him with one leg 1/2 inch shorter than the other. After that, he clearly informed the women who hemmed his pants of this important fact. Since he loved animals, he never said a rude word about the horse.
Dad attended young people's functions at church regularly and went to Catechism classes. In June, 1930, he was baptized upon his confession of faith. He believed that whoever opened his heart to God and was obedient to Him was acceptable to Him. God looks at the heart, and the heart only. Dad had little patience for petty arguments about slight, insignificant differences in Biblical interpretation.
***
One pleasant evening in 1936, at a young people's party, he met Agatha Driedger. He was 26 years old. His eyes twinkled. He had fallen in love. Courtship and engagement followed, and then marriage. A June wedding, June 3, 1939. The depression was over. A new war was beginning. Jakob and Agatha were beginning married life. Their first home was on Concession 2 near Ruthven. Rudy was born there in 1940. In 1941, they rented a farm on Concession 10 of Gosfield North. Here Mary Lou was born in 1943 and Linda in 1946. In February, 1949, they bought their first farm - the neighbouring 50 acre Scratch place. The future looked bright. But in May of that same year, our mother fell ill. Her suffering was brief. She died August 23 in an Ann Arbor, Michigan hospital. The cause was acute leukemia. This was a very difficult time for Dad. Grief. A young family. Great economic stress. He hired Mrs. Olga Hamm to care for the house and the children so he would be free to do the farmwork. He found strength in Psalm 62, 1 & 2. "I stand silently before the Lord, waiting for Him to rescue me. He only is my Rock and my Salvation; He is my defence. I shall not be greatly moved."
On a visit to relatives in Winnipeg in the fall of 1951, Dad met Sara Krahn. They married in January, 1952. Dad brought his new city wife home to become our new mother. Her entry into our lives was unforgettable. The door opened and there she stood. We stared in awe. She was wearing high heels and a fancy, green taffeta dress. It took very little time for us children to come to love her. Soon we called her "Mom". Although she had been a city girl, she soon adapted to hard farm work and was a real source of strength and encouragement to our father. One thing our parents always agreed on was to look up when things were down.
***
In April, 1984, Dad and Mom retired from farming, had an auction and moved to Alderton Street in Leamington where they spent seven very enjoyable years together. Here neighbours often stopped to admire Dad's beautiful roses and flourishing garden. Dad and Mom enjoyed socializing with neighbours and friends. Dad also received much pleasure playing guitar in his music group, the Menno Musicians. Mother Sara passed away in September, 1991. Dad was alone again. He lived on his own in the house and tried to carry on as best he could, inviting friends and relatives for coffee and visits. But caring for his large home became more and more difficult, and in May 2002 Dad made the decision to sell the house and move into Pickwick Apartments. Dad always faced reality with great frankness. When his health began to fail the following year, he realized he couldn't live on his own anymore. He made the move to Erie Glen Retirement Home where he thoroughly enjoyed his large room, the caring staff and many wonderful new friends. Unfortunately, after one year, Dad fell and broke his hip. While recovering in hospital, he told his family that he couldn't go back. He knew more nursing care was required. In August, 2004, Dad moved into the Mennonite Home where he has spent his last years and days. We are grateful for the warmth, compassion and excellent care of the staff and the many activities and programs in which Dad was able to participate. He always enjoyed music and especially enjoyed the special music groups that performed at the Home. Staff always rotated different CD's from his collection onto his player so he was able to listen to his favorite music. Dad was always very sociable and this continued even in the Home. This was evident by the great interest he showed in the personal lives of the staff. Many a staff member was greeted in the morning with a song. They seemed to appreciate his great sense of humour and pleasant demeanour.
In the last few years, Dad's health gradually declined. Macular degeneration robbed him of his sight. More and more he had to give up his independence. Although this was very difficult for him, he knew he needed to resign himself to this and never complained. The last few months became ever more difficult. By last week Dad was unable to take food or water. He became weaker. On Wednesday evening at 7:40 p.m., surrounded by his dear sister and adoring children, Dad made his final journey to his eternal home. Our father has been a true example of strength and courage to us and he always carried on and tried to make the best of his situation. His faith in God and his determination to live out that faith practically, made him the man of integrity and dignity whom we were proud to call our father. He will be greatly missed by his son Rudy and wife, Reta, daughter Mary Lou and husband, Herb Enns and daughter Linda and husband, Rudy Konrad. He also leaves to mourn nine loving grandchildren with spouses and 17 great grandchildren.