Funeral services for 84-year-old David Derksen of New Ulm, Minnesota, were held Thursday morning, October 9, 2014, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in New Ulm, with Pastor Deb Bergstrand officiating.
Burial followed in the New Ulm City Cemetery with full military honors conducted by the New Ulm Area Comrades of Valor Honor Guard.
David Derksen died Sunday, October 5, 2014 at the New Ulm Medical Center in New Ulm surrounded by his family.
David Derksen was born September 6, 1930, the son of Jacob J. and Anna (Steinle) Derksen in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. He was raised in the Mennonite faith and was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith upon his marriage to Eloise Johnson on June 20, 1954 in Comfrey, Minnesota. He graduated from Butterfield Public High School in 1948. Following his service in the United States Army, which took him to Fort Collins in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he and his wife returned to Minnesota and started their family.
They resided in Jeffers, Minnesota, then Fairmont, Minnesota, where David was employed in appliance repair with Montgomery Ward. In 1971, the store closed and the family moved to New Ulm. David remained with Montgomery Ward until 1973, when he was employed at 3M in New Ulm and operated his own appliance repair business. He retired from 3M in 1993.
He enjoyed the Minnesota Twins, crossword puzzles, waltzes and country music, playing cards, riding his bike or vigorously walking around town. He especially loved the boisterous laughter of his large family as they gathered for holidays and picnics. He will be greatly missed by his family and everyone who knew him.
David is survived by his children, Gail (John) Apitz, Diane (Dan) Daugherty, Brad Derksen, Kevin (Julie Dauer) Derksen, Sharon (Scott) Apitz, Larry (Jo) Derksen and Kent (Jill) Derksen, all of New Ulm, Brian Derksen and Tim (Randee) Derksen of Mankato, Minnesota and Keith (Iris) Derksen of Vancouver, Washington; his grandchildren, Anna, David and Sheila Apitz, Wynn (Heidi Friedrichs) Hughes, Crystal (Jason) Frederickson, Jake and Luke Derksen and Kaitlin Apitz; five great-grandchildren and his brother Pete Derksen of Sacramento, California.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eloise on September 25, 1997; brothers, Jacob, William and Frank Derksen and his sisters, Sarah Derksen and Anna Smit.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions for cancer research or diabetes education.