William G. DIRKS

DIRKS, VIERKANT, FLEENER, ROBINSON, OLMSTED, MILAND, BRANER, BILLINGS, MILLS, HALSNE, MEGERS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/25/2014 at 12:50:08

April 21, 1934 ---- October 18, 2014

William "Bill" G. Dirks, 80, of Belmond, Iowa, former longtime Public Works Director for the City of Belmond, Iowa, died, unexpectedly, Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at the Iowa Specialty Hospital, Belmond. Services will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2014, at Andrews Funeral Home, 516 First St. S.E., Belmond, with the Rev. Mike Shaffer officiating. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Andrews Funeral Home and from 1 to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home. Those wishing to express their sympathies through a memorial in Bill's name may wish to consider the Humane Society of Wright County, or to the donor's choice.

William G. "Bill" Dirks was born April 21, 1934, at Meservey, Iowa, the son of Theodore and Alice (Vierkant) Dirks. He attended and graduated from Meservey Consolidated Schools, where he had been active in the music programs, playing the trombone, and also played basketball. Bill was united in marriage to Bonnie Fleener on Oct. 11, 1953, at the First Reformed Church in Meservey, Iowa. Their union was blessed with a son, Mark and two daughters, Merrie and Melanie. The couple had just celebrated 61 years of marriage.

Throughout much of Bill's life he was employed with the City of Belmond as the Public Works Director, a job that his son continues to carry on proudly. During his years of service to the community he had also served for a time on the State Certification Board. Bill enjoyed all aspects of his career, but truly loved to be in the middle of the activity or task that was at hand, be it snow plowing or other duties of the job.

Bill enjoyed the competition and camaraderie of playing volleyball for much of his life even as he attained the golden years. He also had a lifelong passion for car racing and building race cars. He was the one who was always building them and then someone else would drive them for him. His favorite builds were flathead 40's vintage cars. His love of cars and racing was passed on to his son and grandson and family. Seeing that old number 51 his number passed down through the generations always brought a beaming smile to his face. Bill and Bonnie enjoyed spending a number of years wintering in Floral City, Florida. They had done some traveling and had witnessed a rocket launch or two. During his retirement years one might find Bill on one of his daily shopping excursions to the local grocery store, or meticulously mowing his yard. He loved to garden and could grow produce better than anyone else around. He enjoyed cooking and was excellent with his culinary skills on the grill cooking a mean chop, steaks, hobo meals, or one of his many wonderful meals. He looked forward to canning and was proud that he had even been named "Cook of the Week" in the paper.

Bill loved times spent with his children and especially his grandchildren. Times spent with them were precious to him. They will fondly remember Grandpa and Great Grandpa Bill's wit, teasing, and humor, and of course his "Knuckle Sandwiches" and nicknames such as "Little Oreo". He loved animals and often times watched over and cared for many of Bonnie's foster animals during their years together. He also looked forward to the solitude of feeding his birds and the rumblings and accomplishments of trimming and working with his chainsaw. He will be remembered as a big man in stature with a big personality and a soft heart on the inside.

His memory will continue in the lives of his wife, Bonnie Dirks, Belmond, Iowa; son, Mark (LaVonn) Dirks, Belmond, Iowa; and daughters, Merrie Robinson Olmsted (David), and Melanie Dirks, all of the Kansas City area. A sister, Donna Miland and husband Dolvin, Belmond, Iowa; grandchildren: Chad (Lesley); Tiffiny (Matt) Braner Billings, Jared (Sara), and Brenton Robinson; great- grandchildren: Ethen Dirks, Ava Dirks, Emmett Billings, Alice Billings, and Brooklyn Dirks; numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins; special friends, Lisa Mills, and Lorie Halsne; plus several fur kids. Bill was preceded in death by a twin brother and sister; parents Theodore and Alice; in-laws, Clarence Fleener and Dollie Fleener Megers. Andrews Funeral Home, Belmond, Iowa.

Mason City Globe Gazette - Iowa
October 21, 2014