Abe Dirks

Abe Dirks, was born on Dec., 12, 1917, to Enoch and Hannah (Koehn) Dirks at Winton, Calif.

He peacefully passed away on the evening of May 15, 2013, at Noxubee General Hospital in Macon, Miss, at 95.

Funeral services were Monday, May 20 at 10:30 a.m. at Southern Star Mennonite Church in Geiger, Ala. Interment was held in Souls Chapel Cemetery in Geiger. Visitation was at the church on Sunday, May 19, 2013, from 6:30 until 8 p.m.

He was the fifth in a family of 10 children. His childhood years were spent in Winton, Calif. until the age of eight when he moved with his family to Durham, Kan. It was there where he received his education. After the difficult Depression years, the family moved to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1937. He was drafted into service during World War II, and spent some time in a Civilian Public Service Camp at Belton, Mont., before enlisting in the Navy where he became a cook on a troop-transport ship.

In the next years he traveled to Alaska, across the Pacific Ocean, to the Philippines and Japan. After his discharge in 1946, he returned home with a desire to find the Lord and join the church. God graciously forgave him, and he was baptized into the Church of God In Christ, Mennonite on Jan. 3, 1947.

He was faithful to the vows he made until his death. He found his life’s companion in Mabel Lavonna Unruh and they were married by his father on Sept. 25, 1949. They purchased a farm near Bonners Ferry, growing hay and grain. He supplemented their income by working at a saw-mill, logging, and various other jobs.

He worked hard to provide for our mother and us six children. His family remembers him as a quiet man, showing his love to us in deeds rather than words. He was cheerful and optimistic in the face of adversity.

In 1977, he sold the farm in Idaho and they moved to the Geiger area. Here he farmed with his two youngest sons until he retired. He loved nature and the outdoors, observing birds and gardening. In his later years he enjoyed creative wood-working, building many items for his grandchildren. In 1995, they moved into a new home in the town of Geiger where they enjoyed their last years together.

After 53 years of marriage, Mother passed away leaving Dad lonely. He moved to Oakwood Manor in Brooksville as the first resident of that facility. As his health declined, he received loving care from the staff at Oakwood Manor, which was much appreciated by the family.

He is lovingly remembered by his children: Donna Dirks, Newbern, Ala., Galen and Anne, Gainesville, Ala., Clinton and Linda, Geiger, Ala., Rodney and Bonita of Emelle, Ala., Pauletta and Larry Boese, Macon, Miss., Eugene and Luella, Geiger, 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Marjorie Unruh, and Doris and Ervin Jantz, Bonners Ferry.

Memorials can be made to Oakwood Manor, P.O. box 325, Brooksville, Miss., 39739. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon is entrusted with arrangements.