Mokytojas šaulys Jonas Dereškevičius (1891–1988)

ENJonas Dereškevičius, son of Juozas, was born on March 7, 1891 in Marijampolė county, Kalvarija district, Sūsninkai village, in the family of poor farmers. From 1900 to 1903 Jonas Dereškevičius studied at Kalvarijos Primary School. Later, having learnt a tailor’s craft, he earned a living for himself and from 1907 to 1911 he studied privately (according to the curriculum for a progymnasium education). Having passed the final examinations at Veiveriai progymnasium, from 1912 to 1913 he studied at Veiveriai Teachers’ Seminary. He got the teacher’s rights, taught in Seinai. He could speak Polish, Russian and German. At the start of the First World War, in 1914, Jonas Dereškevičius was mobilized in the Russian Army. He served as a regular soldier and participated in battle fronts. In 1916-1917 he was in German captivity in Hammerstein and Danzig. After exchanging war prisoners between the countries, and after returning from German captivity, from 1917 to 1918, he worked as a teacher at the Seinai Primary School and Žiburys Gymnasium. Jonas Dereškevičius, as a representative of the Seinai Town and District, participated in the Vilnius Conference on September 18-22, 1917, the congress of the Lithuanian delegates’ organized by the Lithuanian politicians with German support, which provided the assumptions for the establishment of an independent Lithuanian state, the convening of the Constituent Seimas, and established the Council of Lithuania.In 1919-1920 Jonas Dereškevičius organized the forefront partisan-shooters and defence committees, gathered volunteers for the army and the militia, and headed the riflemen in the battles. On September 15, 1919, the Seinai County Branch of the Riflemen Union was founded, the chairman of which was teacher Jonas Dereškevičius. In 1920, in the fight against the Poles, Lazdijai became the centre of a wide circle of Lithuanian partisans and shooters. The Defence Committee was set up. The organization of the partisans and riflemen was headed by Jonas Dereškevičius, Petras Mockevičius and Antanas Pečiulis. On February 1, 1919 Jonas Dereškevičius was appointed as the commissioner and inspector of the Ministry of Education in the counties of Seinai, Suvalkai and Augustavas. He organized a network of schools in the Seinai County, visited each family, calling for children to go to primary school. Since January 1, 1923 Jonas Dereškevičius worked as an inspector of elementary schools in an unoccupied part of the Seinai County. He organized a network of schools and also worked as a lecturer in teacher training courses. On September 17-23, 1923 the first comprehensive census of the Lithuanian population took place. Jonas Dereškevičius led the group of the census holders of the Rudamina District of the Seinai County. Jonas Dereškevičius actively participated in the press at that time. He wrote correspondence and articles in newspapers and magazines: „šaltinis”, „Lietuvos aidas” (Vilnius), „Lietuva”, „Rytas”, „Kariuomenės žodis”, „Trimitas”, etc. He signed as J.D., J.Dš. etc. From August 21, 1926 until January 1, 1927 Jonas Dereškevičius worked as a teacher at Skuodas Secondary School, then as a director. Since January 1, 1927 he worked at Žaliakalnis Primary School No. 17 as a teachers, later in 1929 he was appointed the head of the school.On September 1, 1931 Jonas Dereškevičius moved to Kaunas City Primary School No. 2 and took the position of the manager. After this school was closed, on September 1, 1936 he moved to work as a teacher at Kaunas City Primary School No. 28. On April 1, 1937 Jonas Dereškevičius was awarded the 2nd degree teacher qualification. On May 15, 1928 Jonas Dereškevičius was awarded the medal of the 10th anniversary of the Independence of Lithuania. In 1934 Jonas Dereškevičius married teacher Stanislava Mikelionytė (born in Leipalingis, Seinai County). They had a daughter Algė Stanislava (born in 1935) and a son Vidas (born in 1940). During the first Soviet years Jonas Dereškevičius was dismissed from the office, but escaped the exile. Since August 16, 1941 he was appointed as a senior inspector at Zarasai County Primary School, and since May 1, 1942 he was appointed as a senior inspector at Vilnius City Primary Schools. Later he worked as a clerk at the Ministry of Social Security. After the Soviet reoccupation Jonas Dereškevičius was hiding, did not live in Kaunas. He worked as an accountant in Kazlų Rūda forestry. After Stalin’s death, he worked as a teacher at the Kriūkai Secondary School in šakiai district until his retirement. Jonas Dereškevičius died on July 31, 1988. He was buried in Kaunas Romainiai cemetery.