Abe Wiens Doerksen

Doerksen – Abe Wiens, age 73, of Greenfield, Queens County, formerly of Calgary, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2023 in Queens General Hospital, Liverpool.

Raised in Steinbach, Manitoba, Abe was a son of the late Abram and Nettie (Weins) Doerksen.

Abe worked on a lot of jobs doing finish carpentry including many home renovations. He was most proud of the work he did in Churchhill, working on the new Churchhill Complex, The Hamptons County Club in Calgary, where he completed  all the finished woodwork and the chuckwagons that he built for the Calgary Stampede.

He was a force, Abe was strong and he was a gentle giant of sorts. He had the biggest hands you have ever seen, builders hands. Abe was passionate about building things and working with wood. He had a gift for making his or others visions come to life, and he was a perfectionist.

Abe grew up in Steinbach Man, and married Sharon Betzold in 1970. They spent two years in Churchill, before he and Sharon started their loving family in Steinbach. Abe and Sharon then moved to Calgary in 1981, spending two years in Saskatoon, 1 yr in Okotoks, they then settled in Lake Bonavista, Calgary in 1986. In 2021 they took an incredible leap of faith and moved across the country to Nova Scotia in search of a quieter life and slower pace, where Abe spent his final years in Greenfield, Nova Scotia.

Abe enjoyed camping when his children were young, fishing, photography, spending time with his grandchildren at Lake Bonavista, NASCAR, collecting rocks, staying informed of the news and reading the entire newspaper every day. Abe also volunteered with the Boy Scouts when his son was younger.

Abe was an incredible listener, quiet, and it was a joy to hear his stories, worldly updates and opinions. He was physically strong and even more strong willed and worked on the front porch every day and every minute his health allowed him to. He was often seen working or sitting, enjoying his accomplishment and watching the lumber trucks and people go by. He would wave and be happy to chat to anyone who came by. Abe was loved and will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his loving wife, Sharon; daughter, Kerry Doerksen (Daniel Freeman) of Bangs Falls; son, Mark Doerksen (Blenda Rosas) of Calgary; grandchildren, Milo, Victor, Emerson and Elliott; sisters, Dianne (Murray) Howell of Winnipeg, Lottie Joyce (Royal Browne) of Deloraine, Manitoba and Tzipporah Goldstien of Lethbridge, Alberta.

Besides his parents, Abe was predeceased by a sister, Susan Doerksen in infancy and a brother, Perry Doerksen.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Chandlers’ Funeral Service, Liverpool. In keeping with Abe’s wishes there will be no visitation or funeral service. No flowers by request, donations may be made to the Greenfield United Baptist Church. To share memories or condolences, please visit www.chandlersfuneral.com