JACOB D. DEORKSEN

Adjust Text Size: A+ A-

JACOB D. DEORKSEN With much sadness the family announces the death of Jake Deorksen on September 24, 2006. He was born on August 9, 1923 on the family farm in southern Manitoba. In his early years he experienced the transition of agriculture in Canada from essentially pre-industrial practices to full mechanization. In 2002, he would publish The Barbed Wire Threshold, an intimate account of these times focused on the life of his father and mother. In 1943, Jake broke with Mennonite tradition and volunteered for the Royal Canadian Navy. He served in the Battle of the Atlantic, notably on the corvette HMCS Kamsack, until the end of the war. The sense of commitment and camaraderie in the Navy at war was a defining experience for him, and he maintained contact with his fellow veterans as an active member of the Vancouver Naval Veterans Association in his later life. In 1945, he obtained leave to marry Leona Brown, and their marriage would last for 61 loving years and produce four children. After several years of farming after the war, Jake went into management in the retail co-operative movement. This career took the family to a variety of locales including Grandview and Morden, MB, Edmonton, AB, and Grand Falls and St. John's, NF. By 1975, he had become a recognized expert in this field, and he was engaged by the United Nations International Labour Office to provide advice in developing countries. This led to memorable years in a number of countries including India, Indonesia and Botswana, during which time he re-wrote the ILO manual for retail cooperative management, a document distributed worldwide. Jake and Lee were inveterate travellers and made it a point to travel extensively, take in the culture of their host countries and receive numerous visitors from home. For the last 19 years they made their home in Vancouver, developing many new friendships and repeatedly solving the world's problems with their Granville Island coffee group. Jake and Lee enjoyed entertaining, and the memories of many will turn to the numerous dinners and open houses that they hosted. Throughout his life, Jake was favoured with good health, but the last several months were trying as he battled bone cancer. The family would like to acknowledge the excellent care that he received through the public health care system, with special thanks to the staff at the Pacific Spirit Community Health Centre and St. Paul's Hospital. He is survived by his wife Lee; his daughters, Audrey and Cristina; and sons, Tom and Kern. Of his 10 brothers and sisters, he is survived by Louise, Fred and Anne, and the families of Bertha, Kate, Henry, Sadie, Herman, Mary and Martha. He will also be remembered by his grandchildren, Anita, Carol, Daniel, Jacob, Joanne, Kayla, Shane and Zachary; his great-grandchildren, Andy, Brandon, Charles, Ellie, Jonathon, Katie, Melanie and Rory; and a wide circle of extended family and friends. There will be a private family memorial at First Memorial Funeral Services in Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the B.C. Cancer Foundation or a charity of choice.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Sep 27, 2006