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Donald Alan Dirks June 17, 1925 ~ Oct. 26, 2012
October 17, 2012, 9:06 am by Staff Reports
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Dirks graduated from school in Galesville, Wis., in 1942. He went to a vocational school in Eau Claire and LaCrosse, Wis., and enlisted in the Army in October 1944 and went to Fort Knox for tank school. In March 1945, he got on the Queen Elizabeth and got off in Scotland. He was part of the United States Army Third Armored Division serving honorably in World War II. He returned to the United States in 1946.
In August of 1950, Dirks was diagnosed with polio and spent the next 9 months at Elizabeth Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis. After leaving Sister Kenny he went to Eau Claire and enrolled in vocational school taking bookkeeping.
He met Lorraine in 1951 through a friend who was a patient at Swedish Hospital rehab center where Lorraine was working. Their first date was on Halloween weekend. They were married on June 7, 1952 at the Methodist Church in West Concord, Minn., where Lorraine’s family lived until she was 11. They returned to Eau Claire where they set up house. Their first apartment was a 2-room trailer without plumbing. They had an ice box with ice that was replaced every other day and their bathroom was across the street. They were there a couple of months and then moved into an apartment in town. From there they moved to Minneapolis where Dirks had a job and their first child, Debbie, was born. They were there about a year and then moved back to Chippewa Falls where they remained until 1978 until they moved to Texas. All 3 sons were born in Chippewa Falls.
Dirks and Lorraine celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary in June with a great party.
He was active in the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star in Marble Falls and Central Texas. He and Lorraine served as Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron three times.
He was an active member of the St. Andrew Presbyterian Church of Marble Falls for 34 years. He was installed as elder and served in churches both Chippewa Falls and Marble Falls. He served as moderator of Chippewa Presbytery, and in several Synod committees until they moved to Texas. He was a Cub Scout pack leader, active in Boy Scouts and received the Order of the Arrow.
Dirks walked with a cane until 1990 when he got his first electric cart. The cart allowed him to keep up with Lorraine.
He is survived by wife Lorraine; daughter Debbie and husband Darby Reid of Spring Branch, Texas; sons Daryl of Spring Branch, and Jon and wife Elaine of Jacksonville, Fl.; grandchildren Matthew Reid, Michael Dirks, Dale Dirks, Andrea Dirks and Rachel Dirks; great-grandchildren Hunter Reid, Kendall Reid, Joshua, Jacob Dirks, Emma Dirks, and Dylon Dirks; sister Charlotte Griffin and husband Ronald; and sister-in-law Lea Dirks.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son James; and brothers Richard and Robert.
Dirks became ill on Oct. 20 with bronchial asthma. He was admitted to Scott & White Hospital in Llano Thursday morning and passed away early Friday morning. Now he can run and dance without his brace.
The memorial service was held Monday, Oct. 29 at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church with Rev. John Brantley officiating.
Memorials may be made to St. Andrew Presbyterian Church or Presbyterian Children’s Home, 4407 Bee Cave Rd Suite 520, Austin, TX 78746.
Condolences may be offered at www.clementswilcoxfuneralhome.com.
Reader Comments
So sorry to hear about Don. We will all miss his wonderful smile.
Daphine McEntyre
November 01, 2012, 4:00pm by Daphine McEntyre
507 Bessemer Ave. Suite A, Llano, Texas 78643 - Phone: (830)693-4367