Dirks, Roberta Mae 1918-2008

DIRKS, POLLOCK, STINTON

Posted By: Mary Holub, volunteer (email)
Date: 8/21/2008 at 14:20:38

From: Le Mars Daily Sentinel, August 21, 2008

Roberta Dirks, 91, of Akron, died Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, at the Akron Care Center in Akron.

Roberta Mae Pollock Dirks was born March 22, 1918, in Plymouth County, the daughter of Rex and Neva (Stinton) Pollock. She graduated valedictorian of her high school class in May of 1936 and later attended the Iowa State Teacher's College in Cedar Falls. In 1937, she was united in marriage to Walter Dirks and they made their home in Akron. They celebrated their 71st wedding anniversary in January of this year.

Through the years she had a strong personal faith in Jesus Christ and was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Akron. An avid reader, Roberta was also a member of the Home Culture Book Club for more than 60 years. She also loved nothing better than a good game of bridge and was a long-standing member in a local bridge club. She spent countless hours quilting, doing needlepoint, and sewing. Her four daughters enjoyed her sewing talents and took pride in wearing the many prom dresses she would design and sew for them. She hand-quilted 11 quilts for each grandchild and several quilts for her daughters.

Walt and Roberta formed many friendships during their 30-plus years of spending winters in Phoenix, Ariz. Roberta's favorite place to vacation, however, was at their cabin on Lake Okoboji. She spent many happy summers there and was often surrounded by lots of company including her children and grandchildren. Her family was her greatest love and all of her grandchildren were her pride and joy.

Due to her illness of Alzheimer's disease, Roberta spent her last seven years in the Akron Care Center where she received wonderful loving care from all the staff. We will all miss her special smile and gentle spirit. She leaves us with a legacy of a life well lived.

Those remaining to cherish her memory include her husband Walter; her daughters: Judy Dirks of Northfield, Minn., Nadine Philips (Sam) of Akron, Deanna Boe (Larry) of Akron and Sharon Pauling (Dennis) of Austin, Texas; 10 grandchildren: Karen Berg of Amsterdam, Holland, John Philips of St. Paul, Minn., Ann Franzenburg of VanHorne, Mark Philips of Akron, Sasha Makel and Danae Werthman both of Atlanta, Ga., Nadiya Buerk of Toledo, Ohio, Joanna Dubinsky of New Orleans, La., Kristen Doyle and Jennifer Garcia both of Austin, Texas; 18 great-grandchildren; a sister, Irma Woudenberg of Lincoln, Neb.; a sister-in-law Maggie Pollock of Tucson, Ariz.; and two special cousins, Bonnie Yahnke of Spokane, Wash., and Virginia Goos of Overland Park, Kan.

She is now at peace and joins her heavenly family who preceded her in death: her two parents; her brothers: Bob Pollock and Alden Pollock; her sister: Charlene Beckman; and a grandson: David Pauling.

Memorial services will be at 11a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church, E.L.C.A. in Akron. The Rev. Jean Morse will officiate. Private family interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Akron prior to the services. Visitation will be after 3 p.m. Friday with the family present after 6 p.m., all at Carlsen Funeral Home - Schroeder Chapel in Akron.

The family kindly requests memorials in Roberta's name.