DIRKS, Antje 1826-1907

DIRKS, UILDERKS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/4/2017 at 13:00:34

Mrs. C. E. Dirks

Mrs. C. E. Dirks, known so familiarly as Grandma Dirks, died at her home in Lincoln township where she had lived for thirty-two years, Thursday, April 25, 1907, at 1:30 a.m. Her last illness lasted about six weeks.

Antje O. Uilderks was born in the city of Emden, Ostfriesland, Germany, May 10, 1826. On May 10, 1849 she was married to C. E. Dirks. In 1870 the family came to the United States and settled in Shannon, Ill., April 1st of that year. On the 25 of February, 1875 they came to Grundy county, Iowa, where she resided to the time of her death. Mrs. Dirks was a member of the Prairie Dell Reformed church in Illinois and always retained her membership there. She was a woman who made friends among old and young and always had a kind word for those who came in contact with her.

Twelve years ago her husband died and since then she has lived in her home alone, guarded as far as possible at all times by the loving administrations of her six surviving children. She leaves to mourn her loss her six children, Mrs. H. Dieken, Otto, Everett, Henry, Cornelius and John Dirks, twenty-nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The funeral took place from her late residence on Monday, April 29, 1907, conducted by Rev. J. E. Drake and the remains were laid to rest beside those of her late husband in the Drake church cemetery where many relatives and friends gathered to pay their last respects to her.

Among those from out of town who attended the funeral of Mrs. Dirks were Mrs. R. Asmus of Rake, H. Asmus of Thompson, Iowa, Mrs. John Kramer of Parkersburg and Ben Voss of Parker, S.D.

--The Grundy Republican (Grundy Center, Iowa), 2 May 1907, pg 7