Philip Doerksen
Obituary
It is with great sorrow that we announce the passing of Philip (Phil) Joseph Doerksen of Winnipeg, MB, born December 11, 1944, in Steinbach, MB. Phil passed away peacefully with his wife by his side in the early hours of Thursday, May 29, 2025, after an intense battle with a rare form of cancer.
Throughout his life, Phil displayed his faith in God in everything he did. His generous and grateful spirit was evident in his love for his family, his commitment to his church, his passion for his work and hobbies, and his compassion for others.
Phil is survived by his beloved wife, Carol (née) Fast, of 54 years, and his children, Jodi (George) and Carey (Pamela), as well as his cherished grandchildren, Annika and Emmett.
He was predeceased by his parents, Jacob & Nettie Doerksen, and his siblings Myrtle, Ray, and Lydia. He is also survived by his siblings John, Sara, Pauline, Gerald, Henry, and Delia, along with numerous in-laws, nieces, and nephews. Phil leaves behind many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly.
Phil grew up on a family farm in Blumenhof, MB, doing chores and working in the fields. He was full of shenanigans in his younger years, such as stealing cookies before going out to do chores in the morning. He was also known to turn off the power to neighbouring houses on Halloween with his friends. Despite his mischievous ways, his faith was important to him, and he was baptized in the Blumenort EMC Church as a young man. He loved to sing and play guitar, including playing Hawaiian guitar in a band and singing in a quartet.
Phil and Carol grew up attending the same church, and they were married on May 15, 1971, in Winnipeg, MB. Together, they had two children, Jodi and Carey. Phil was a loving and devoted husband and father. As a family, they loved to travel and have adventures, converting more than one old van into a camper for family vacations. He adored his grandchildren, Annika and Emmett, and he was always eager to take them for bike rides, work on woodworking projects, or treat them to ice cream and sweets. He loved making crepes for his family, with an endless variety of filling combinations. Family suppers and game nights were filled with conversation and laughter.
Phil loved working with his hands and was always up for the challenge of fixing anything that was broken. He discovered a passion for the electrical trade and went through an apprenticeship program, becoming a journeyman electrician in 1973. In 1977, he and Carol started their own electrical contracting company, Jorey Electric, named after Jodi and Carey. Phil was dedicated to providing quality work at a fair price and built many relationships in the construction industry. Whenever driving around Winnipeg, he would point out places where he had worked. In 2008, Phil and Carol proudly passed ownership of Jorey Electric to Jodi and Carey, with Jodi providing electrical engineering services and Carey managing the electrical contracting side of the business. Though Phil never officially retired, he gradually stepped aside as his children took on more responsibility. Even in his “retirement,” he loved stopping by the shop to help out and hear about current projects.
Phil enjoyed traveling and embarked on several trips to provide voluntary service, both individually and with his family, in countries across Africa, Central America, and South America. Phil and Carol also enjoyed vacationing with close friends, visiting Jamaica and Belize, and going on a Caribbean cruise. Wherever Phil went, he took note of “interesting” electrical work, collecting photos of wiring that would never pass inspection in Canada. After retiring, Phil and Carol spent winters in Mesa, AZ, where Phil found many like-minded friends at the woodshop in their community, Venture Out. In the summertime, Phil and Carol loved camping in their trailer, with Winnipeg Beach Campground being a favourite family destination. They also took road trips, traveling throughout Western and Eastern Canada.
Charitable work was one of Phil’s core values. He was always willing to lend a helping hand and generously gave his time to those in need. Phil was a dedicated member of Morrow Gospel Church since the 1970s, serving in numerous capacities over the years. He was also a board member for Steinbach Bible College for many years.
Phil loved reading, biking, and woodworking. His “happy place” was his workshop, especially when working on projects with his grandchildren. He loved sharing his passion with them, carefully teaching them how to use tools and machinery. He was always eager to take on new projects and share his creativity with others. In 2021, he built a historically accurate Red River ox cart – constructed entirely of wood with no nails, screws, or glue – which was used to travel down the old Red River Trail from Winnipeg to Minneapolis in 2022. The ox cart is now housed at the Mennonite Heritage Museum in Steinbach, MB.
Phil will be dearly missed, but his legacy will live on through the stories he told and the lives he touched. We will remember him as a man of integrity, faith, generosity, and love.
There will be an informal “come-and-go” time with coffee and cookies on Wednesday, June 4, from 7:00–9:00 p.m. at Morrow Gospel Church to share memories and visit with friends and family.
A celebration of Phil’s life will be held on Thursday, June 5, at 2:00 p.m. at Morrow Gospel Church, 755 St. Anne’s Rd., Winnipeg, MB., with a fellowship meal to follow. A viewing will be held prior to the service. The service will also be livestreamed on the Birchwood Funeral website. Cremation and interment will occur at a later date.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” ~ Philippians 4:4
