He graduated from Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., in 1922, and also attended Pomona College, Claremont, Calif. While there he participated in the Pomona Solar Expedition to Catalina Island in California in 1923.
In 1925 he joined the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (gravity and astronomy) in Washington, D. C., where he served as mathematician and geodecist until his retirement in 1963. He was the author of the government publication, "Deflections of the Vertical in the United States";"Manual of Geodetic Astronomy - Determination of Longitude, Latitude and Azimuth by Hoskinson, Albert J. & J. A. Duerksen, US Government Printing Office. Washington. 1947. Reprint 1952; "Pendulum gravity data in the United States" US Government Printing Office. Washington. 1949.
He was a life member of the Mathematical Association of America and the American Geophysical Union. He was also a member of the Philosophical Society of Washington, D. C., the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping, and the Washington Academy of Science.
In 1930 he transferred his church membership from the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel, Kan., to the First Congregational Church in Washington, D. C., where he was an active member.
In 1963, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Bethel College.
During retirement he did research at the National Archives on various aspects of Mennonite history and genealogy. Several papers were presented in Mennonite publications.
Duerksen, J. A. "Przechovka and Alexanderwohl." Mennonite Life X (April 1955): 76.
Survivors include three daughters, Eleanor (Mrs. Herman Karl) Saalbach of Springfield, Va., Sylvia Duerksen and Vera Mae Duerksen, both of Washington, D. C.; a son-in-law, Herman Karl Saalbach; three grandchildren; two great-grandsons; five brothers, George, Ernest, Adolph and August Duerksen, all of Goessel, and Alvin of Newton; and one sister, Elsie (Mrs. Anton) Schmidt of Goessel. He was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
A memorial service was conducted at First Congregational Church in Washington, D. C., on April 6, 1986, and burial was in Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Md.
(MWR 1986 May 1 p. 8; see also Who's Who among the Mennonites, 1943)
He graduated from Bethel College, North Newton, Kan., in 1922, and also attended Pomona College, Claremont, Calif. While there he participated in the Pomona Solar Expedition to Catalina Island in California in 1923.
In 1925 he joined the U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey (gravity and astronomy) in Washington, D. C., where he served as mathematician and geodecist until his retirement in 1963. He was the author of the government publication, "Deflections of the Vertical in the United States";"Manual of Geodetic Astronomy - Determination of Longitude, Latitude and Azimuth by Hoskinson, Albert J. & J. A. Duerksen, US Government Printing Office. Washington. 1947. Reprint 1952; "Pendulum gravity data in the United States" US Government Printing Office. Washington. 1949.
He was a life member of the Mathematical Association of America and the American Geophysical Union. He was also a member of the Philosophical Society of Washington, D. C., the American Congress of Surveying and Mapping, and the Washington Academy of Science.
In 1930 he transferred his church membership from the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel, Kan., to the First Congregational Church in Washington, D. C., where he was an active member.
In 1963, he received the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Bethel College.
During retirement he did research at the National Archives on various aspects of Mennonite history and genealogy. Several papers were presented in Mennonite publications.
Duerksen, J. A. "Przechovka and Alexanderwohl." Mennonite Life X (April 1955): 76.
Survivors include three daughters, Eleanor (Mrs. Herman Karl) Saalbach of Springfield, Va., Sylvia Duerksen and Vera Mae Duerksen, both of Washington, D. C.; a son-in-law, Herman Karl Saalbach; three grandchildren; two great-grandsons; five brothers, George, Ernest, Adolph and August Duerksen, all of Goessel, and Alvin of Newton; and one sister, Elsie (Mrs. Anton) Schmidt of Goessel. He was preceded in death by one brother and three sisters.
A memorial service was conducted at First Congregational Church in Washington, D. C., on April 6, 1986, and burial was in Fort Lincoln Cemetery in Brentwood, Md.
(MWR 1986 May 1 p. 8; see also Who's Who among the Mennonites, 1943)
Family Members
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Abraham Duerksen
1894–1894
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Mary Ann Duerksen Thiessen
1896–1983
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Margaret Duerksen Buller
1898–1979
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Agatha A. "Agnes" Duerksen Unruh
1899–1981
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Justina Duerksen
1901–1901
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Gerhard A "George" Duerksen
1902–1989
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Ernest Duerksen
1904–1992
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Abram Adolph Duerksen
1908–1992
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Alvin Duerksen
1910–1999
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Paul Duerksen
1912–1978
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August Duerksen
1913–1989
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Elsie Duerksen Schmidt
1915–1989
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