Clara Doerksen

Clara Doerksen

1933 - 2001

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Clara

Obituary of Clara Doerksen

Clara requested that the following verses be highlighted at her funeral. “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-38) With this assurance Clara faced both life and death. Clara was born in Winnipeg on May 29, 1933 to her parents Jacob and Gertrude Friesen Plett. She was the oldest of five siblings. Since her dad owned lumber mills in several locations, her childhood involved a number of moves. After completing Grade 9, she attended the Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills, Alberta for seven years – three years of high school and four years of Biblical Studies. She thoroughly enjoyed her academic studies. She also took piano, voice, and accordion lessons. She was chosen to be the Valedictorian for the graduating class. In 1958, Clara married Gerry Doerksen, a young man who had been in her Blumenort school class for a number of years. Gerry and Clara taught on a Hutterite Colony for one year. After this Juanita, and later Mimosa, Garth and Keith were born. Clara chose to become a full-time mother. She also encouraged the children do as well as they could in school. All four learned their basic piano from her. When Keith started school, Clara felt free to once again pursue her joy of studies. She first enrolled at the University of Manitoba. When the family moved to Edmonton, she continued her studies at the University of Alberta. At first she focused on English and Religion. Later her emphasis shifted to Psychology. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, a Masters of Arts, and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the University of Manitoba. Clara has always had a very fertile, active mind. She read a lot and knew her Bible very well. Clara worked as a Mental Health worker in Steinbach until her illness and death. She thoroughly enjoyed her work and would have loved to continue had her health allowed. On Saturday, March 31, she was admitted to the Steinbach Hospital. Her condition deteriorated, despite investigations and treatment. A blood clot in her lungs was the cause of her sudden and unexpected death. Clara died at the age of 67, at approximately 5:30 pm on Thursday, April 5, 2001. According to her dreams and plans, Clara had not nearly finished life. However, her favorite song “Have Thine Own Way, Lord”, best expresses her wishes. She leaves to mourn: her husband Gerry; daughter Juanita, her husband Harold Peters and their four children Jesse, Kurt, Olivia and Natasha; daughter Mimosa, her husband Ray Koop and their three daughters, Brittany, Breanna and Braelyn; son Garth, his wife Mary Anna and their two girls Emily Ann and Madeleine; and her son Keith, his wife Colleen and their children Evan and Amy. Clara’s father passed away in 1969 and her mother in 1996. She leaves behind: her sister Kathy, her husband Harry Peters and their family; her brother Norman, his wife Heidi and their family; her brother Delbert; her brother Nathaniel, his wife Lucille and their family; numerous relatives and a large number of friends. As a family, we recognize that Clara’s individuality didn’t always result in her simply following the traditional ways of doing things. This made her more unique and a person from whom all of us learned so much. While we are terribly sorry to see her go, we share her believe that “…neither life nor death…will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”. The Family. The funeral Service will be held Wednesday, April 11, 2001 at 2:00 p.m. at the EMC Church, 59 Centre Ave., Blumenort, MB Friends and family wishing to pay respects may do so on Tuesday, 7 – 8:00 p.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel. No devotional service at the viewing.