Daniel (Dennis) Doerksen

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Daniel (Dennis) Doerksen, on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at his home in Grunthal, MB.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife Edna, along with eight children, Betty Funk, Bill and Erna Doerksen, Ben and Clara Doerksen, Erna and Phil Gerbrandt, Danny Doerksen, Eddy Doerksen, Luella and Brad Peters, and Randy Doerksen. Dad was a wonderful Grandpa to 22 grandchildren, and he was also blessed with 5 great-grandchildren.

He was predeceased by his 1st wife Susan Friesen in 1994, his parents Daniel and Ida Doerksen, his father and mother-in-law Johan and Susan Friesen, his father-in-law Tony Hiebert, along with his sister and numerous brothers and sisters-in-law.

Dad was born in Steinbach, MB on July 13,1941 to Daniel and Ida Doerksen. He was the oldest son of four children. Dad lived in Niverville MB until he was 6 ½ years old. They then moved to Paraguay by ship in June of 1948. Dad had many mischievous adventures aboard the ship “The Volendam”, to the point where the captain knew him by name because he was found climbing many things that were not meant to be climbed.

Dad was baptized on the confession of his faith on June 11, 1962 in Colony Bergthal, Paraguay. On November 4, 1962 dad married our mom, Susan Friesen. Mom and dad enjoyed 31 ½ years of marriage. During this time, they were blessed with four sons and three daughters. In Paraguay, dad was blessed to be able to farm, to support the family, but in 1980 they made the hard decision to move the family back to Canada. He was very fortunate to find work at the New Bothwell Cheese Factory in August of 1980. This is where he worked till his official retirement, when his health began to fail him at 69 ½ years of age.

Mom and dad enjoyed several trips to Paraguay together which he never stopped talking about and always wanted to go back.

In August of 1993, his whole world tipped upside down. Mom was diagnosed with cancer. They fought hard for 10 months but God had other plans. He said it was time that she came home, and dad thought he would never be whole again. Just when he thought he would feel like ½ a person for the rest of his life, again, God said I have other plans for you. That is when he met Edna and was blessed with love, a second time. On dad's 55th birthday, July 13, 1996 he married Edna. They were blessed with a son, Randy.

Dad was blessed to find a second wife who enjoyed driving and gospel fests as much as he did. Together they put on many miles, whether it was driving to BC to visit his daughter or going to numerous different gospel fests. Dad loved music and played various different instruments.

A Bible verse that is very fitting for our dad is Philippians 4:12, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.”

Dad had many health issues with his heart and later his kidneys and we watched his health decline drastically but we never heard him complain about any of the hardships he was given.

Through all the different stages, some happy, some sad, what we will all remember most about dad was his love for music and his family.

Dad's Bible had no dust on it, was well worn and had many marks and reference notes. He never stopped searching for more truths. We thank God that he had mercy on our dad and said “It is enough, you have fought a good fight, you have run your race, it is time to start the rest of your life where you will thirst no more, where you will have no pain, and will always have enough air to breathe. It's time to come home”.

We as a family would like to thank the Heart Failure Team, all of the palliative care team, the Homecare nurses and Dr. Duerksen. But we want to especially thank Edna for making it her full-time job to take care of dad at home, granting dad's wish that he could be in his home till the end, surrounded by family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation - Cardiac Sciences Manitoba, to help provide excellent cardiac care and pursue ground-breaking cardiac research.

A public viewing will be held from 7:00 – 8:30 pm on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Crossings Funeral Care, following current covid guidelines. A private family funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm on Thursday, December 2, 2021 at the New Bothwell Sommerfeld Mennonite Church. The family invites you to join them through livestream . Burial will follow the service in the New Bothwell Sommerfeld Mennonite Cemetery.