Dr. John Derksen passes away; Knox College expresses condolences
Dr. John Derksen passed away June 1, 2024. He served as professor of Church Music at Knox College from 1976 until his retirement in 2009, and led the Knox College Choir in regional and national choir tours for many years.
The following obituary appears on the Presbyterian Church in Canada website:
On June 1, 2024 the world lost a remarkable person. Dr. John Derksen was a Mennonite prairie boy from Saskatchewan whose love of music, especially music for the church and the organ, led him to Toronto. He graduated from the University of Toronto in 1982 with a doctorate in musicology. Retired professor of Church Music at Knox College. He served at Knox College from 1976 until his retirement in 2009, and led the Knox College Choir in regional and national choir tours for many years. Mentor, teacher, conductor, composer, organist, John inspired others to grow personally and musically under his loving and erudite guidance. He died peacefully at home after a brief and difficult battle with brain cancer. John will be forever loved and missed by his wife Kristen, his children Benjamin (Sofie) and Samuel (Melanie), his loving Derksen/Nickel family and Anema family and his many friends.
A celebration of life will be held at Islington United Church on June 21st at 11:00 a.m.