John Edward Derksen died Sept. 4, 2011. He was born Dec. 23, 1921 in Kalantarovka, Kuban, Russia to John J. and Katherina Derksen. In 1925, as the family immigrated to Canada, John contracted polio, resulting in a disabled leg. They settled in Watrous, Sask., in 1928, and moved to Yarrow, B.C., in 1932. John accepted the Lord in his youth and was baptized into Yarrow MB Church. John married Freda Brucks Sept. 23, 1945. He completed his teaching certificate in 1956 and his BEd at University of B.C. John taught elementary and secondary school in Vancouver and Abbotsford, B.C., retiring in 1983. John was a member of Clearbrook MB Church, where he sang in the chancel choir. John and Freda moved to a care home in 2011. Predeceased by 5 siblings, John is mourned by Freda; children Harold (Danie Tremblay), Elaine (Les Smuin), Ruth (Vic Derksen Siemens), Lois (Brian Hall), Daphne (Tim Diebert), Ruby (Ken Doerksen); 21 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild.
