WILLHELM (BILL) DOERKSEN

Condolences & Memories (8 entries)

• Our deepest sympathy to Uncle Bill and Aunt Pat's family, Mark and Michael Doerksen. It was a special privilege to have had Uncle Bill in my life. Over the years, since I was a very small girl, I always remembered my handsome Uncle in his RCMP uniform and I would often look at his portrait in the family album. Since then he has had many adventures and over the years he took the opportunity to write long letters and tell me about those adventures from time to time. I also remember him making the time to let me stay at his home for a weekend while attending college and taking me to various antique stores on that weekend. In the last number of years we've had many phone calls back and forth, reminiscing about old times and future trips that he had been planning to take. We were so thankful that Mark was able to travel with Bill to the coast last summer and make one of his dreams come true. Bill was my favorite uncle and I heard that many others felt the same way about him. He leaves many pleasant memories and will be sorely missed, especially the letters, but we continue to pray for your family's healing at this time. - Posted by: Walter, Laura and Jennifer Harder (Niece) on: Apr 23, 2018

• Mark, Mike: I was sorry to hear of your dad's passing - I had not realized he had been so ill. My memories of him resonate with what Wendy E. has articulated so well. I was glad to have had the opportunity to have spent time with your parents on a few occasions in the last years. The good times when our families visited when we were kids were recalled and we had some good laughs. Pat & Bill were two special people and I know you will miss them both. May peace settle gently on your hearts, a little more each day. With affection, Sara Jane - Posted by: Sara Jane Schmidt (Cousin) on: Apr 14, 2018

• Sending my deepest sympathy to you, Mark and Mike and your families, learning of the passing of your Dad. I met your Mother while we both worked at the Dafoe Library at the University of Manitoba. A few years later, we met again, working at Public Library Services and became very good friends and this is when I met your Dad. When our library was decentralized to Brandon and we decentralized with it, the three of us spent a lot of time together, going out for dinner, the movies or just for a walk in the evenings. We shared many a laugh together. After Brandon, our friendship continued through telephone calls and letters as we lived in different cities, still enjoying the laughter and the news of each other's families. Bill always had something amusing to add. Sadly, hearing from him, that he had cancer, I did keep in touch. I received a letter from Bill in early February and knew the cancer had spread and still his sense of humor shone through, commenting that at least he did not have to worry about tsunamis. Bill and Pat will always be remembered as a wonderful couple to know and will always be sincerely missed by me. - Posted by: Diane Miller (Friend to Pat and Bill ) on: Apr 12, 2018

• My condolences to Pat and Bill's family. I and my late wife, Pat, have very many fine memories of Bill, Pat and their boys. I had the honour and privilege of working with, and for Bill in Calgary for a few years. A finer person I have yet to meet. Over the years we have kept in touch but I especially remember The Christmas Letter from the Doerksen family outlining what they have done in the past year. It was like an adventure story, as they travelled the world. Rest In Peace old Friend. - Posted by: Gene Humenny ( Friend) on: Apr 12, 2018

• My heartfelt condolences to the family. Uncle Bill was the only uncle I got to know and therefore that makes him my favourite-ist. I started a written correspondence with him years ago and I cherish every single one of his letters. At my own fathers funeral (his brother Neil) all 5 of my siblings filed into the sanctuary of the church with their spouses 2 by 2, but being single I had no one. Uncle Bill came up to me and offered me his elbow and said "I would be honoured if you would allow me to escort you." I have never forgotten the kindness he offered me that day. I loved his humour, his hilarious stories, his view on life, his memories of growing up; they all reminded me of the best parts of my own father whose absence I still mourn deeply. I will miss him and cherish my memories of him, and his letters to me. Sincerely, Sharman - Posted by: Sharman Derksen (Niece ) on: Apr 11, 2018

• We have been friends of Pat and Bill since we both started out in married life. We always enjoyed their company and had many laughs together. They had 3 boys and we had 2 boys, so there were many happy times for the kids as well. He did have a sense of humour like no other. Especially over the low German language and the jokes made about it. All the best to the boys and their families. Eldon and June - Posted by: June and Eldon Wiebe (Friends from 50 years ago.) on: Apr 10, 2018

• Bill was much loved even by those relatively late to join his family. He was a close observant of the absurdities in life and shared these in conversation, clipped articles and letters to cherish. His was a wonderful dead-pan delivery, always accompanied by a twinkle in his eye and sometimes a snort. I will miss him and will never fail to think of him when some new form of nonsense comes across the media transom. In other words, often. Love to all his family, Wendy Espeland - Posted by: Wendy Espeland (friend; extended family) on: Apr 08, 2018

• Our sympathies are extended to Mark and Mike and their families as well as the family of Clifford. Our friendship with Bill began late in life and so our observations are based on Bill’s decline. He was a gentle man through the tough times. His sense of humour was always close at hand, his love of life and family always evident, his enjoyment of good food abated only in the last while. Bill was attended to by his very fine sons, with daily visits especially by Mark who lived in the city. We will miss Bill and our games of crokinole along with many great conversations! Be at peace! Don & Gloria - Posted by: Don and Gloria Dyck (Friend and cousin of Pat) on: Apr 07, 2018