Esther J. Doerksen, 86, died November 26, 2022, at Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
She was born Esther Jane Westfahl on 10 April 1936, in rural Burrton, Reno County, Kansas, the daughter of George C.W. and Mary Jane Fryar Westfahl. She attended VanSickle Grade School in Valley Township and graduated from Haven High School in 1954.
A lifetime rural Burrton, Reno County resident, Esther was born and raised in the same house where she spent most of her adult years. She married Harold J. “Bob” Doerksen on 29 September 1957 at Pleasant Grove church in Valley Township. They celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2007, two months before Bob passed away.
Esther loved life on the farm. In addition to farming, she enjoyed raising peonies for over 30 years, driving a Haven school bus for 20 years and making quilts for her kids and grandkids. She was passionate about genealogy and had been researching the Westfahl family since her grade school years.
She was preceded in death by her husband Bob; her parents; a brother, Warren Westfahl; and two sisters, Dorothy Klein and Mildred Phemister.
Survivors include: five daughters—Cindy Daly and husband Terry, Las Vegas; Melinda Beaty, Hutchinson; Brenda Blackburn and husband Tim, Olathe, KS; Beverly Carlson, Roeland Park, KS; and Julia Doerksen, Hutchinson; five grandchildren—Tim Wiseman (Renee), Lisa Meissner (Jason), Andrew Blackburn (Rebecca), Elyssa Gavin (Xavier) and Christian Blackburn (Talia); and nine great-grandchildren—Will and Jesse Meissner, Lucas, Lex and Lily Wiseman, and Boston, Ellis and Lilla Blackburn. She also leaves behind her beloved dog Goldie, as well as 3-4 cats, depending on what strays show up on any given day.
Funeral arrangements are pending, with services planned at Elliott Mortuary in Hutchinson, KS. Casual clothing (jeans, etc.) is encouraged for those who attend the service, as it was Esther’s dress code of choice, and she wants you to go right back to work after the service. Burial will be in Valley Township Cemetery, near Haven in Reno County, following the service.
Memorials may be sent to Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church at 11303 E Longview Rd in Burrton, KS or Cause for Paws at P.O. Box 1391 in Hutchinson, KS.
Personal condolences may be sent to www.elliottmortuary.com.
