Memorable Manitobans: Eugene Derksen (c1916-1994)

Eugene Derksen Click to enlarge

Publisher, printer.

Born at Nikolaifield, Russia around 1916, he and his family immigrated to Canada in 1923 and settled on a homestead at Herbert, Saskatchewan.

The family moved to Steinbach in 1936 where his father established a printing business. It printed a German-language newspaper, the Steinbach Post, but he recognized there was a market for an English-language paper so, in 1946, he founded the Steinbach Carillon News. In the mid-1960s, he acquired the Beausejour Beaver and, around 1970, the Morris-Emerson Journal. He served as President of the Manitoba Weekly Newspapers Association (1958-1959).

He was a member of the Steinbach town council and Steinbach Chamber of Commerce. He was a charter member of the Mennonite Heritage Village and established its print shop. He died at Steinbach on 16 July 1994 and was buried in the Steinbach Heritage Cemetery.

Sources:

Obituary, Winnipeg Free Press, 19 July 1994, page 32.

“Carillon founder, community builder dies peacefully at 78,” Steinbach Carillon, 20 July 1994, page 1.

We thank Ed Krahn for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 23 August 2024

Memorable Manitobans This is a collection of noteworthy Manitobans from the past, compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. We acknowledge that the collection contains both reputable and disreputable people. All are worth remembering as a lesson to future generations. Search the collection by word or phrase, name, place, occupation or other text: Custom Search Browse surnames beginning with: A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z Browse deaths occurring in: 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 Send corrections and additions to this page to the Memorable Manitobans Administrator at biographies@mhs.mb.ca Criteria for Memorable Manitobans | Suggest a Memorable Manitoban | Firsts | Acknowledgements Help us keep history alive!