We Remember
DOEKSEN, Gerard “Gerry”
December 17, 1935 — July 31, 2026
Gerard “Gerry” Doeksen went to be with the Lord on July 31, 2026, at the age of 90. He is survived by his two sons, Corwin and Carlin (Stacey); three grandchildren, Alexandra (Nathan) Dennis, Brady Doeksen, and Garrett Doeksen; great-grandchildren Charlotte Dennis, Nixon Dennis, and Briggs Dennis; as well as many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 55 years, Helena; as well as his parents, Rijn and Aaltje Doeksen; and his brother Rijn Doeksen.
Gerard was born December 17, 1935, in Beverwijk, North Holland, Netherlands. After WWII, at the age of 13, he immigrated to Canada with his family. They settled on a farm in Okanagan Mission, BC in 1949. He graduated from Kelowna Secondary School in 1956 and from the University of British Columbia in 1960 with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering. He proudly became a Canadian citizen on May 16, 1960. His lifelong career (over 33 years) with Cominco (Teck) began the next year in Trail, BC. There, he fell in love with Helena Epp, a lovely school teacher and prairie girl who moved to Trail from Saskatchewan. They were happily married August 5, 1967, and went on to raise two sons in nearby Montrose, BC.
The boys grew up to watch and participate in Gerry’s countless interests and hobbies; most related to the railroad, which captivated him endlessly. He was well known for his model railroading, photography, filmmaking, pencil sketch artwork, and authorship of seven books about railroad history. In retirement, Gerry was also passionate about his volunteer work for the Christian Salvage Mission, who provides Christian educational materials and used books to people all over the world at no cost.
Gerry’s relationship with Jesus Christ was the most important thing in his life. He was baptised both as a child and as an adult at age 28 by Pastor Howard Woodruff of Fifth Avenue Alliance Church in Trail, BC. He volunteered for decades at the Alliance Church as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School superintendant, church elder, and church treasurer. Through Gerry’s leadership, design, and labour, the construction of a new Trail Alliance Church building was completed in 1978. With gratitude, the congregation in Trail continues to worship there today nearly 50 years later. For the last 25 years, Gerry and Helena have attended and supported Mission Creek Alliance Church here in Kelowna, BC.
Gerry loved Jesus, his family, his church family, and the community of railroaders, model railroaders, and railfans of which he was a lifelong contributor.
Gerry will be sorely missed as a loving father, grandpa, great-grandpa, and dear friend.
A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, August 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM (PDT), at Springfield Funeral Home (2020 Springfield Road, Kelowna, BC), with Pastor Keith Whitaker officiating. If you are unable to attend in person, please join the family online by Livestream at the time of the service (see below); a recording will be made available to view in 3-5 days.
If you wish to send a condolence, post photos, or share a memory, please scroll down the page to the area called “Condolences”.
LIVESTREAM: Provided by Springfield Funeral Home:
Service
Friday, August 14, 2026, at 1:00 PM (PDT)
Location
Springfield Funeral Home


