Jeanette Joyce Koehn Dirks
Jeanette Joyce Koehn Dirks
Jeanette Joyce Koehn Dirks, our dear mother and grandmother, was born to Henry L. and Hattie (Wadel) Koehn on Jan. 22, 1933, at their home in Winton, Calif. Mom had a happy childhood. When she was 14 years old she gave her heart to the Lord and was baptized into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by minister Glen Litwiller on March 3, 1947. She was faithful to her vows until the end.
One of Mom’s first jobs was cutting peaches in the peach sheds of California.
On Oct. 12, 1952, Mom married our father, Dale Dirks, in Winton, Calif. They shared 58 wonderful years together. Four children were born to them.
Dad and Mom made their home in Bonners Ferry, Idaho. Moving to North Idaho from California with its conveniences and warm climate was an adjustment for Mom. In Idaho she experienced using a wood cookstove and having outhouses in the first years.
Dad and Mom spent two years in 1W service in Roseburg, Ore., making lifelong friends and lasting memories.
Mom loved her life with Dad in North Idaho, sharing and supporting him in all his ventures. Our mother was a lady; her words were kind and she treated everyone with respect. She was orderly and kept everything in its place.
We children remember the four years we lived in Sheridan, Wyo., where Dad helped build a sawmill and get it into production. Those were memorable years for our family.
Dad passed away in 2011, leaving her very lonely. She bravely faced life without Dad and kept busy with canning and yard work in summer and playing Scrabble with her friends in the winter, along with many other everyday activities.
Mom was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer a short time ago, which she faced with a calm assurance. She was a good example to us of faith and courage throughout her life. She peacefully passed away at her home on Feb. 15, 2019, reaching the age of 86 years.
Those who remain to cherish happy memories are her children, Cheryl and Roger Unruh, Moyie Springs, Idaho, Diane and Arnold Harms, Hurricane, Utah, and Russ and Brenda Dirks, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; 13 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren; one sister, Lillian Mastre, Bonners Ferry, Idaho; one brother, Orville and Valeda Koehn, Winton, Calif.; and many other relatives and friends.
Preceding her in death were her husband Dale; one infant daughter; her parents; one brother, Charles and sister-in-law Maryanne; one brother-in-law, Stan Mastre; and one great-grandson, Lane Dirks.
Funeral services were held on Feb. 20, 2019, at the Mountain View Mennonite Church, Bonners Ferry, Idaho, with ministers Ben Nystrom, Glenn Ensz and Frank Mastre officiating. Burial was in the adjoining cemetery.