Henry Dueck was born to George and Mary Dueck on May 21, 1922 in the Herbert / Gouldtown Saskatchewan area. The youngest of four children.
In 1932 during the Hungry Thirties spring planting was done with a three horse team. With next to no rain everything was too dry resulting in no crop for that year. In July of that year the family moved to Carrot River with two teams and covered wagons, three cows walking the whole move of 365 miles. Taking 18 days, averaging 20 miles a day. There the family built a house with a sod roof and dirt floor. In 1937 they took up a homestead for approximately $10 in the Pesane / Orley, Saskatchewan area.
In 1939 Henry went to work hauling hay as well as logs driven by oxen. That same year his mother was diagnosed with cancer, recovered from surgery, but later passed away March 6, 1942.
His father, now a widower, pursued a new relationship in Crookshank, Saskatchewan and in February 1943 married Susanna Doerksen and came back to the homestead bringing along her family of which Anna Doerksen was a daughter. Before they knew it Henry and Anna were the talk of the countryside and on July 13, 1943 wedding bells were ringing again. The next summer their first daughter joined them.
Henry worked on water works and sewer systems as well as for a while in a chick hatchery in Tisdale, Saskatchewan.
In early 1949 a second daughter was born and in 1950 along came a third daughter. In 1952 when jobs were not too plentiful there came the desire to pack up and go west so the family, now the five of us, moved by train with whatever belongings we could take along to Burns Lake, B.C. Arriving December 20 just days before Christmas. This was winter and it was cold. Jobs were easy to get and so they set out to find a place to live. They started out in a small two room house and an Airtight heater and not much for belongings, but things got better.
In the summer of 1954 another daughter was born. In the spring of 1956 a son joined the family. Now the family was complete.
Henry pursued various types of work including mill work, milk delivery, carpenter work, school janitor and for a while he had his own janitor business. Henry had a limited education but he read a lot, especially his Bible.
He also loved to laugh. Anna and Henry enjoyed their stay at the Pines.
Henry was predeceased by his parents, George and Mary Dueck, his step mother Susanna (Doerksen) Dueck, sister Mary Krahn, brothers George and Frank and most recently on September 18, 2005 his wife and life partner Anna Dueck. Leaving him to wait for his call to join her.
We will miss Henry (Dad) very much. Jesus called him to his eternal home and we know we will see them all again. He leaves behind four daughters, one son, their spouses, numerous grand and great grandchildren and many friends.
“Until we meet again.”