DIRKS, Otto 1855-1933

DIRKS, KRAMER

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/13/2015 at 18:46:25

Otto Dirks Died At Grundy Home Friday Afternoon

Came To Grundy County 58 Year Ago; Was One Of County's Successful Farmers

Otto Dirks died at his home in Grundy Center last Friday afternoon at two o'clock, following an illness covering many years from kidney trouble. He was confined to his bed but two weeks before the end came.

Funeral services were held at the home at one o'clock Monday and later at the German Presbyterian church. The services were in charge of Rev. K. J. Stratemeier, who preached in both the German and English languages on Rev. 5:5 and I Thess. 4:14. Rev. John Schuurman of Lincoln Center read Scripture and offered prayer. Burial was by the side of the wife in the Drake church cemetery. There was a very large attendance at the funeral services. The seating capacity of the large church was not sufficient to accommodate all who wished to attend the final rites.

A quartet consisting of Alydia and Irene Groote, Russell Kruse and Arthur Slickers, accompanied by Mrs. J. C. Stachour, sang hymns of consolation.

Relatives from out of the county in attendance at the funeral included Rev. E. O. Dirks and family, of Traer; Mr. and Mrs. K. J. Kramer and daughter Ann, and Martin Tjepkes, all from Stewartville, Minn.; John Kramer, Parkersburg; Mr. and Mrs. Will Kiewiet and family from Buffalo Center, Iowa.

Resident of County 58 Years
Mr. Dirks would have been 78 years old had he lived until the 25th of next August. He was born in Emden, Germany, August 25, 1855. When he was 14 years old he came to this country with his folks. The family expected to make their permanent home near Freeport, Ill., and they occupied a farm there for a few years. They were not satisfied and in February, 1875, they came to Grundy county, and landed in Parkersburg late in February of that year. The family moved on the farm in Lincoln township which has remained under Dirks ownership ever since.

Family of 8 Reduced to 3
There were eight members of the Dirks family when they came to this county 58 years ago. They were the father and mother, five sons and one daughter. Only three remain. Otto was the second oldest of the children and the oldest of the five sons. The family remained together on the original Dirks homestead until they married.

Otto Dirks and Miss Tena Kramer were married in 1883. They began housekeeping on a farm in Colfax township which Mr. Dirks still owned at the time of his death. After his father and mother left the farm, Otto acquired the home place and lived there until twelve years ago when they moved to Grundy Center. Mrs. Dirks died ten years ago.

Raise Large Family
Mr. and Mrs. Dirks raised a family of ten children. One of the number, Cornelius, preceded both the mother and father in death. The remaining children are five sons and four daughters. They are John, Otto, Evert, H. O. and Henry G. The daughters are Mrs. Frank Venenga, Mrs. Simon Weseman, Mrs. Frank Weseman and Mrs. Will Groote. There are 30 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The two grandchildren, Tena (Mrs. Jake Franken Jr.) and Jennie (Mrs. Ed Heerts) were reared by him and in turn ministered to him in his advancing years.

Was Prosperous Farmer
Mr. Dirks was one of Grundy county's most successful farmers. With good management, hard work and thrifty habits he acquired several Grundy county farms which he owned up to the time of his death. He was a good citizen, a conscientious and helpful neighbor, and a man whose word or integrity was never questioned. He was widely known over the county and the news of his death was received with sincere regret by his many friends.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 13 July 1933, pg 1