Leona M DeorksenJacob D. and Leona M. Deorksen were partners in both writing and life. Jacob served in the RCNVR during WII, and was inspired by his experiences to tell the story of those whose service is rarely covered in books. Jacob self-published The Barbwire Theshold in 2002, and he and Leona collaborated on the 1988 edition of ILO's Management and Administration of Co-operatives.

Having married shortly before WWII ended, the Deorksens farmed in southern Manitoba until Jacob embarked on a career with co-operative enterprises. That culminated in an appointment as Co-operative Management Expert with ILO, where he served in India, Nigeria, Indonesia, and Botswana. After having their four children, Leona went back to school, eventually earning her Ph.D. in Literature. She continued lecturing at Memorial University of Newfoundland until she and Jacob retired to Vancouver. They had just finished the manuscript for this book when, in 2006, Jacob died of cancer. Leona still lives in Vancouver with her eldest daughter, and is now a great-great grandmother. Read More Read Less