Johann J. Duerksen
Born: July 4, 1859
Place: Alexanderthal, Russia
Died: March 14, 1923
Place: Marion County, Kansas
MOTHER:
Aganetha Balzer
FATHER:
Johann Duerksen
SIBLINGS:
Maria B. Duerksen
Heinrich J. Duerksen
Helena B. Duerksen
Peter J. Duerksen
Katherina B. Duerksen
Jacob J. Duerksen (1/16/1867-1/25/1867)
Cornelius B. Duerksen
Aganetha Duerksen
Gerhard J. Duerksen
Eva B. Duerksen
Anna B. Duerksen
Susanna B. Duerksen
David B. Duerksen
SPOUSE:
Maria Reimer (7/30/1863 - 12/21/1948)
Married: January 3, 1884
Place: __________
CHILDREN:
Johann R. Duerksen (11/2/1884 - 12/29/1965)
Maria R. Duerksen (7/11/1886 - 12/30/1945)
Sara Duerksen (1/16/1888 - 6/1/1977)
Agnes Duerksen (8/28/1889 - 5/31/1977)
Helen Duerksen (7/15/1891 - 7/15/1891)
Katherina Duerksen (6/29/1892 - 8/30/1975)
Jacob R. Duerksen (3/24/1894 - Unknown)
Abraham R. Duerksen (8/6/1896 - 8/23/1969)
Gerhard R. Duerksen (9/4/1898 - 10/30/1974)
Peter Duerksen (10/30/1900 - 12/17/1900)
Anna Duerksen (10/30/1900 - Unknown)
Martha Duerksen (1/6/1903 - 4/28/1903)
BIOGRAPHY
Johann was born on July 4, 1859 in Alexanderthal, Russia to Johann and Aganetha (Balzer) Duerksen. He was the second of fourteen children born to this marriage.
Back Row: Maria and Johann
Front Row: Aganetha, Mother Aganetha, Eva, Father Johann, Gerhard, Cornelius
At age 24, he married Maria Reimer on January 3, 1884. To this union, twelve children were born, three of whom died in infancy. Johann passed away on March 14, 1923 in Marion County, Kansas at age 63. Maria passed away some 25 years later at age 85.
MEMORIES OF JOHANN J. and MARIA (REIMER) DUERKSEN
Written by Grandson John P. Duerksen
There isn't much that I can remember about my grandfather, Johann J. Duerksen, because he died in 1923 when I was only ten years old. The last time I had seen him was the year before, when our family had been in Kansas on furlough from the Arizona Mission Field, and I was only nine years old. I do remember his beard, because when he would take me in his arms to kiss me, he would pull my face deeply into it, and I'll never forget that feeling. I knew that he loved me deeply, though he never talked about it much.
Outstanding in my memories are the evening gatherings in the parlor, when the whole family would gather to sing with the organ and with whatever other instruments the family had. After the signing, Grandfather would read from the Scriptures and would lead in prayer or call upon someone else to do so.
It was also true that after each family gathering, such as for a Sunday dinner, no one would leave until all had been together in a worship service which always included the signing of many favorite songs, some from memory, others after being 'lined out'.
Back Row: Katherine, Abraham, John, Maria, Jacob
Front Row: Agnes, Father Johann, Anna, Mother Maria, Gerhard, Sara
It was natural that from such a home would come children interested in and participating in the work of the Church. Two sons, one of whom was my father, John R., entered mission work. Aunt Anna recalls that Grandma used to tell Grandpa he should 'write to John once', to which he would answer that he didn't know what to write. Then he would walk around a while, scratching his head and his beard, obviously trying to think of something to write about, but ending up not writing.
There was a deep love of peace in the family, and when the second son was called to the mission field, Jacob (India) was advised by the Mission Board to take along a rifle, to defend himself against snakes and other jungle animals, he did so most reluctantly. He tried to conceal this from the rest of the family, but while packing for India at the parental home, it came to light. Grandma saw it and burst into tears to think that they had left Russia in order to be true to their non-resistant faith, and now her son was going into mission work, taking along a gun. She understood its purpose later on, and accepted it, but never spoke about it any more. It shows how deep-seated their belief was in the way of peace as over against the way of war and strife.
But it wasn't an out-of-balance faith that the family had, for, besides a deep devotional life, there was also a keen sense of stewardship that extended beyond that of money and property, to time and talent. This had grown out of a deep love for an extensive knowledge of the Scriptures, which both Grandpa and Grandma could quote extensively and with deep fervor.
These are wonderful memories to have of my grandparents, one of whom I was privileged to know only slightly.
