August 6, 1934 - April 28, 2022
Menno "Dave" Derksen, passed away peacefully on April 28, 2022 in Courtenay. Dave was born in Frontier Saskatchewan and grew up on the family farm. As a young man of 18, he left the farm and worked the Steamships operating on the Great Lakes. From there he joined the RCAF and was stationed in France and later, Comox.
While in Comox, he met his wife Audrey who was also with the RCAF.
They married in July 1963, left the RCAF in 1964 and moved to Carroll, Manitoba where they owned their own dairy farm. In 1969, the family moved back to Comox, where Dave worked at Western Mines before taking up ownership of a local lumberyard. It was here that he discovered his passion for woodworking.
Dave then started a business making cedar furniture and continued working into his 70's often attending local markets and craft shows.
Dave is survived by his wife of 59 years Audrey, his 3 sons: Denis, Ken and Brian (Roberta), his 6 grandchildren: Wyatt, Sydney, Payton, William, Carson and Wes and his sister Katherine.
He is predeceased by his siblings: Walter, Tina, Henry, Lena, Martha and Anna.
The family would like to thank the staff at Courtenay Seniors Village for the care and compassion they showed to Dave and his family over the past two years.