Obituary of Abe Doerksen

Abe Doerksen, age 76, of Steinbach, MB, passed away Monday, December 12, 2022, at Bethesda Regional Health Centre, Steinbach, MB.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Hilda, daughter Selma (Rick) and grandchildren Zach (Katie), Alix (Mason), Keiran and Trinity and sister Helen (Andreas) as well as many cousins, nephews and nieces and friends.

Abe was predeceased by his parents John and Kay Doerksen, his brothers Jacob, Pete and Irwin, as well as a son Stephen.

Abe grew up in Paraguay and as a young man he enjoyed riding dirt bike and playing guitar.  Already in South America Abe worked in the logging industry.  There he met Hilda and they married, raising Selma and Stephen.

The family relocated to Canada to start a new life and Abe continued to work as a logger.  He would come back from camp for the weekends to spend time with the family.  On August 31st, 1989, Abe experienced a severe and life altering accident while working in Ontario.  After many months of rehabilitation, Abe learned to do life as a paralyzed man confined to a wheelchair.  That did not stop him from pursuing his life`s passions and ambitions.

Abe always found a way to do as he wanted.  He enjoyed fishing so he bought himself a pontoon boat and had modifications done to it so that he could wheel himself on and then fit at the steering wheel.  Abe had the dream of owning a cottage so he bought himself a portable sawmill and rigged up the controls to a remote and then proceeded to cut all of the logs and boards needed for a timber frame cottage.  He and Hilda enjoyed trips to Branson and Nashville, back to Paraguay to visit family as well as ship cruises to Alaska, the Caribbean, the Panama Canal and the Baltic Sea.

Abe was a generous man who was always willing to help out in whatever capacity that he could.  He was an advocate for people living with paralysis and their ability to live more independently.

The cottage in Lac du Bonnet was a great source of enjoyment for Abe.  There he could truly relax while enjoying the river view, the sunsets, fishing and sitting by the campfire together with his family.

Abe’s faith allowed him to face the small and bigger challenges of life.  As a family we are comforted in knowing that he is no longer bound to a wheelchair but rather that his body is fully healed and that he is in the presence of his Saviour.

The family wish to thank all who at any point in Abe’s life came for a visit, sent a text, made a call and helped Abe along.  As well, we thank the medical staff for the excellent care and compassion extended to Abe in his final days.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, December 17, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Birchwood Funeral Chapel, Steinbach, MB, with viewing prior to the service. Interment to follow at Heritage Cemetery, Steinbach, MB. To join the family via livestream, please click HERE shortly before the start of the service.

Donations in memory of Abe may be made to Spinal Cord Injury Manitoba or Steinbach Community Outreach.