Deanne Duerksen, Hesston
Deanne Duerksen Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information (jostfuneralhome.com)
December 21, 1944 - September 4, 2022
Hillsboro - Deanne Duerksen, 77, passed away September 4, 2022 at her residence in Hesston. She was born December 21, 1944 in Concordia, Kansas to Peter and Mary (Henderson) Goering.
Survivors include: son Craig (Megan) Duerksen of Wichita; daughters Shannon (Todd) Davis of Haven, Sherri Duerksen of Phoenix, Arizona; sister Peggy Goering-Kuck of Pacific Grove, California; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Celebration of Life 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 10, 2022 at First Mennonite Church in Hillsboro officiated by Pastor Tom Harder.
Memorials to First Mennonite Church or Tabor College in care of Jost Funeral Home, P.O. Box 266 Hillsboro, KS 67063.
Life Sketch taken from the Funeral Bulletin
Deanne Adene (Goering) Duerksen was welcomed into her eternal home on Sept. 4, 2022. She was surrounded by family and friends in the last days of her earthly life.
Deanne was born on Dec. 21, 1944 in Concordia, KS, the oldest daughter of Rev. Peter and Mary (Henderson) Goering. After a move from Lynn, KS to Lehigh, KS, her twin siblings, Peter Jr. (Pete) and Peggy Sue, were born in 1948. Her foster sister, Pat, joined the family in 1952.
Most of her youth was spent in Lehigh, KS, where her father was the pastor at Lehigh Mennonite Church. She moved to a new school her senior year and graduated from Moundridge High School.
After college at Brown Mackie, she was married in 1963 and subsequently had 3 children: Shannon (1966), Sherri (1968) and Craig (1974).
She obtained her B.S. degree from Tabor College in 1986 and her master's degree from Emporia State in 1993. Tabor played a central role in Deanne’s life as a career and as a ministry. She started a 41-year career at Tabor in 1973, retiring in 2014.
Her faith was the most important part of her life, followed by her family and serving others. She surrendered her life to Christ at age 7 and was baptized at Lehigh Mennonite Church in 7th grade by her father. She later joined the Hillsboro Mennonite Brethren Church and First Mennonite Church of Hillsboro. She served faithfully in many areas of church ministry, often being one of the first to volunteer—in children's ministries, worship team, discipleship groups, pianist, deacon/caregiver and kitchen committee. She was quick to recognize and greet visitors, brought hundreds of meals to people and found joy in serving Christ and others through the church.
Deanne's most recent journey with cancer began in mid-May of this year. She was welcomed into the presence of Jesus on Sept. 4, the end of a journey for which she said she had no fear because she knew where she was going and that all would be well there.
Deanne is preceded in death by a stillborn son, Scott, her parents Rev. Peter and Mary (Henderson) Goering and brother Pete Jr., two cousins and numerous aunts and uncles.
She is dearly remembered and survived by three children, Shannon (and Todd) Davis, Sherri and Craig (and Megan); sister Peggy (and Larry) Goering Kuck; grandchildren Hunter and Morgan Davis, Lauren, Scott, Sean, Talby and Annie Duerksen, great-grandson Lowry, along with many extended family and friends whose lives she touched.
Her cremains will be buried next to her infant, stillborn son, Scott, at the Lehigh cemetery.
Online condolences at www.jostfuneralhome.com.
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