Dirks, Paul Edward 1928-1987

DIRKS, REESER, WANGEN, EDMONSON, MORRIS, ELG, EISENBEISZ, LANTOSH, ALTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 4/21/2018 at 18:31:50

July 29, 1928 -- February 8, 1987

Paul Edward Dirks was born to the Reverend George F. and Eleanore Dirks on July 29, 1928 and was baptized August of 1928 in Grinnell, Iowa. As a young boy, Paul lived in various locations as his father ministered to churches in Iowa including Renwick, Grimes, Westgate, where he was confirmed on Palm Sunday in 1941 in Parkersburg, IA. He graduated from Dike, IA high school. After his graduation he attended college in Cedar Falls, IA and obtained a teachers certificate after which he taught in country schools in Iowa for 3 years. Paul met and was united in marriage to Mavis A. Reeser on August 24, 1947 in Parkersburg, IA. After his marriage Paul was employed by Sears Roebuck in Waterloo, IA for 3 years before moving to rural Osage, MN. He purchased the R and D Resort on Straight Lake, in Osage and has operated it ever since. He also purchased the Straight Lake Turkey farm in 1961 and operated it until 1980 when his sons took over. During his life in the Osage area, Paul was a member of Calvary Lutheran Church in Park Rapids where he was a council member, Bethel class and Sunday school teacher and member of the choir. Past president of the Associated Resorts,past president of the Chamber of Commerce, member of the Detroit Lakes Skipper Chorus, F-M Ambassadors and the Bass Singer of the L'ectric Chord Quartet. Besides singing Barbershop Paul enjoyed fishing and hunting in the Osage area.

Paul is survived by his wife, Mavis, of Osage; his parents, Rev. and Mrs. George Dirks of Park Rapids, MN; 2 sons Todd & Kevin both of Osage; 2 daughters Joan Wangen/Edmonson of Petersburg, ND; Karen (Brad) Elg/Morris of Comfrey, MN; brothers, Rev. Robert Dirks of Dundee, IL, Dr. Donald Dirks of Ft. Worth, TX and 3 sisters Janice (Gary) Eisenbeisz; Ruth (Vince) Lantosh both of San Bernardino, CA and Hazel (Bernard) Alter of Cedar Falls, IA. Mother-in-law Marguerite Reeser of Park Rapids, MN and 4 grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by one sister, Eunice.

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