Abe Dirks

ABE DIRKS

Our father, Abe Dirks, was born on December 12, 1917 to Enoch and Hannah (Koehn)
Dirks at Winton, Ca. He peacefully passed away on the evening of May IS, 2013 at Noxubee
General Hospital in Macon, Ms. reaching the age of 95 years.
Dad was the fifth in a family of ten children. Funeral services will be held at Southern Star Mennonite Church in Geiger, Al on Monday, May 20, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow in Souls Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be at the church Sunday, May 19, 2013 from 6:30 until 8:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to Oakwood Manor, P.O. box 325, Brooksville, MS 39739. Cockrell Funeral Home, Inc. of Macon is in charge of arrangements.



His childhood years were spent in Winton,
Ca. until the age of eight when he moved with his family to Durham, Ks. It was there where he
received his education. After the difficult Depression years, the family moved to Bonners Ferry, Id.
in 1937.
He was drafted into service during World War II, and spent some time in a c.p.s. Camp
at Belton, MT 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
January 3, 1947. Dad was faithful to the vows he made until his death.
Dad found his life's companion in Mabel Lavonna Unruh and they were married by his
father on September 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. Dad
worked hard to provide for our mother and us six children. We remember 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, Dad sold the farm in Idaho and we moved to the Geiger, AL area. Here he farmed
with his two youngest sons until he retired. Dad loved nature and the outdoors, observing the
birds and gardening. In his later years he enjoyed creative wood-working, building many items for
his grandchildren. In 1995, Dad and Mom 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, Ms as the first resident of that facility.
As Dad's 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, AL, Galen and Anne,
Gainesville, AL, Clinton and Linda, Geiger, AL, Rodney and Bonita, Emelle, AL, Pauletta and Larry
Boese. Macon, Ms, Eugene and Luella, Geiger, AL, 17 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren; his
sisters, Marjorie Unruh, and Doris and Ervin Jantz, Bonners Ferry, Id.