John Derksen

November 1st, 1923 – August 28th, 2017

John Passed away peacefully with family around him at St. Joseph’s Home Saskatoon SK.

John was the 10th child born to Abram and Katarina Derksen on November 1st, 1923, in Teddington District SK.

John left school and home at a young age to find work at the sawmills of northern SK. often being gone for long times without family knowing where he was. After several years, John found the stability he was looking for in Tena Doerksen, the two fell in love and were married July 21st, 1946. After moving around in their early years, John and Tena settled in Saskatoon where they lived, worked, and raised their five children. In Saskatoon John worked construction. John was a very strong leader in the General Contractors Labour Union (Local 890) and worked as a business agent in his last years of work.

John and Tena were always involved in church activities, and in their retirement were able to increase their involvement. They also able to do more traveling to visit their ever expanding family.

John kept busy with a few hobbies, tinkering in the garage, carpentry, gardening with Tena, and watching sports. John would watch all kinds of sports, his kids or grandkids sports or sports on T.V.

John sold the house on Mowat Crescent 2 years after Tena passed to move into Parkville Manor, he spent 5 years there. Spring 2016, John moved to Prairie Spring Private Care Home, then on August 16th, 2017 John moved to St. Joseph’s Long Term Care Home where he received excellent care for his remaining days and passed on August 28, 2017. John was preceded by his wife Tena (May 10, 2009), parents Abram and Katherina Derksen, grandson Paul Henry Landry, his in-laws Henry and Marie Doerksen, 5 brothers, and 4 sisters. Survived by 2 sisters Mary Lokken and Christine Rempel, children Vicki (Jim) Crowell, Rosalee (Jerome) Kolinowski, Lorne (Betty) Derksen, Norman (Colleen) Derksen, Karen (Raymond) Clothier, 19 grandchildren (with spouses) , 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.

In lieu of flowers donations to Teen Challenge would be greatly appreciated.