Anne Adair Dierking 1937 - 2018

DIERKING, LARSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/17/2018 at 08:57:22

Sioux City Journal
10 April 2018

Iowa City, Iowa, formerly Sioux City

Anne Adair Dierking, 81, of Iowa City, formerly of Sioux City, went home to God on March 29, 2018, after a courageous six-month battle with pancreatic cancer. Since her diagnosis, she experienced wonderful, loving care from her team of doctors in Iowa City, and spent her last days under the compassionate care of the Mercy Hospital Hospice unit.

A celebration of Anne's life will be 7 p.m. Saturday at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 140 Gathering Place Lane, in Iowa City, with reception following at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of Gay & Ciha Funeral Home in Iowa City. To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.

Anne was born on Jan. 31, 1937, to Carl and Jean Larson, the youngest of three daughters, and was raised in Aurora, Ill. She graduated from Aurora High School in 1955 and went on to graduate from the University of Iowa with a degree in education in 1958. After teaching for two years, she married Gene Dierking in June 1959. In 1965, they moved to Sioux City, where they remained for 50 years until relocating to Iowa City in 2010.

Anne lived a life that reflected her great faith, and held many active and leadership roles in service organizations throughout her life. These included the Scottish Highlanders, Alpha Chi Omega sorority, First Presbyterian Church, PEO, Meals on Wheels and Alpha Chi alum club. She also spent considerable time working with the Stephen Ministry and founded the prayer shawl ministry at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church.

Anne loved nature, in particular her happy place in the woods and lakes of Ely, Minn.; water fed her spirit, whether she was swimming in it, floating on it, paddling a canoe, or just sitting on the shore soaking in its beauty and peacefulness.

She is survived by her husband, Gene; daughter, Louise Dierking (Mark Meldahl); sons, Jim (Lynn) Dierking, and Bill (Amy) Dierking; grandchildren, Anna, Genevieve, Dylan, Megan and Ashleigh; and sister, Eleanor (Craig) Cowles.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Jean Larson; and her sister, Gayle Carr.

Memorials preferred to Mercy Hospital Hospice Care, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Organ Fund, or Briarwood Health Care Center.