Jimmie Harold Duerksen

Jimmie (Harold) Duerksen

Jimmie was born on April 16, 1928, in Shafter, California, as the 8th of 10 children. His family was a farming family, and when he was small, his family participated in “reverse migration” when they moved from California to the high plains of northwestern New Mexico, near Grants, to do dry land bean farming. Jimmie, then known as Harold, had many interesting experiences as a child in rural New Mexico. Perhaps the most notable was when he was struck by lightning while caring for his horse. The horse was seriously injured and had to be put down, while Harold was blinded in one eye.

By the time he was in his late teens, the family had moved to more fertile cropland in the Rio Grande Valley near Albuquerque. During this period, Harold spent two years at a boarding high school in the midwest at Enterprise Academy. After returning to Albuquerque, he heard the explosion and felt the shock wave from the first atomic test at White Sands while working on his father’s farm.

When called up for military service during Korea, Harold discovered that his given name was actually “Jimmy” rather than “Harold”. After being released from his military obligations, Jimmy obtained employment at the Veterans Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, serving in several roles and acquiring various skills over a period of years. Eventually, he became a corrective therapy assistant, a position that he would hold in excess of 35 years. He retired in the early 90’s after 42 years with the Veterans Hospital, and moved to Tucson.

Shortly after beginning his employment at the Veterans Hospital, Jimmie met an attractive teacher, Ruth. They were married in 1957, and were close to their 60th anniversary at the time of his death.

In retirement, Jimmie focused on the two G’s: gardening and grandkids. He travelled frequently to visit his children and grandchildren, who treasure the memory of time spent with grandpa. His gardens were always wonderful, and he enjoyed spending hours in them first digging, then planting and weeding, and then reaping the harvest. His trademark was his onions, which he carried from place to place all his life. We have brought starts of his onions with us today, and you are welcome to take one and plant it in your garden in remembrance.

A man of faith, he said little, but preached volumes through the way he lived his life. He is survived and greatly missed by his wife, Ruth, children Penny and Russell, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren, and by a legion of friends.

Arrangements are under the direction of Montecito Memorial Park & Mortuary, Colton, California.