DIRKS, Evert H. 1857-1938

DIRKS, SAATHOFF

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 4/6/2017 at 13:12:55

Final Rites For E. H. Dirks Held Monday Afternoon

Funeral services for E. H. Dirks, who died at the Marshalltown hospital Thursday noon, were held at the home in Grundy Center early Monday afternoon and later at the Presbyterian church of Colfax township, with which church Mr. Dirks had been affiliated during the active part of his long lifetime.

Pastors assisting in the short service at the home were Rev. George Swalve, pastor of the Colfax church, Rev. J. E. Drake from Cedar Falls, who was the deceased's pastor for many years, and Rev. K. J. Stratemeier, pastor of the Grundy Center German Presbyterian church.

At the church, a sermon in the German language was delivered by Rev. Drake. Rev. Swalve spoke in English. The auditorium of the large church was filled with relatives and old friends. Burial was by the side of the wife in the Colfax cemetery.

Obituary
Evert H. Dirks was born the 4th day of August, 1857, in Emden, Germany. With his parents he came to America in 1870, settling in the community of Forreston, Ill., coming to Grundy county five years later.

On the 13th of March, 1884, he was united in marriage to Harmke Saathoff by the Rev. B. VanderLaas. This marriage was blessed with four children. The youngest daughter died in infancy and a son, Cornelius, passed away in 1931. In 1934 they had the privilege of celebrating their golden wedding anniversary. His wife preceded him in death a year and a half ago.

He was one of the early members of the Colfax Presbyterian church, and has remained faithful until the end.

He was always in the very best of health and very active until a week before his death when he was taken sick with a cold which developed into pneumonia, causing his death at the Deaconess hospital April 21. He attained the age of 80 years, 8 months and 17 days.

Pallbearers were Henry Luitjens, Wesley Heckt, Will Scott, Geo. Eggleston, Henry Groenewald and Chris Haas.

He leaves to mourn his death one son, John S.; one daughter, Mrs. Andrew Franken and her husband; one daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ella Dirks; six grandchildren and one sister, Mrs. D. J. Dieken, together with other relatives and friends.

Relatives from a distance who attended the funeral were Rev. and Mrs. Evert Dirks from North Bend, Wis.; Will Kiewiet, Buffalo Center; H. O. Dirks, Marshalltown.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 28 April 1938, pg 1