Raymond Richard Dirks

Sibley, Iowa Raymond Dirks, age 77 of Sibley, IA died Thursday, July 22, 2010 at Osceola Community Hospital in Sibley, IA. Funeral service will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, July 24, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley, with Reverend Terry Simm officiating. Burial will follow in the Holman Township Cemetery of Sibley. Visitation will be Saturday, July 24th from noon until time of service at the First Presbyterian Church in Sibley. The Jurrens Funeral Home of Sibley is handling the arrangements. Raymond Richard Dirks was born on March 14, 1933, the son of Bernard Ben and Grace (Meester) Dirks on the family farm near Rock Rapids, Iowa. He grew up in the Rock Rapids area and attended country school Midland #4. On June 16, 1972, Ray was united in marriage to Tena Broesder. He was a man of many interests, working and living in several different places throughout his life. The last place he worked was Hessebeck Manufacturing of Worthington, MN. He then later semi-retired from there and continued working from his home doing small engine repair and chain saw sharpening. Ray enjoyed working with wood and made many beautiful shelves with his scroll saw. He was an avid bird feeder and really looked forward to when the birds would return to his feeders in the spring. The thing he loved the most was spending time with his grandchildren, Samantha and Riley. They lived the closest and got to spend a lot of time with their Opa . Samantha was lovingly called Poop Shoot and Riley was his Little Monkey . Ray is survived by his wife of thirty-eight years, Tena Dirks of Sibley; three children from his first marriage, Cindy (husband, Tom Sr.) Atwood of Princeton, IA, Lorri (husband, Kent) Ellis of Princeton, IA, Randy (wife, Becky) Dirks of Bettendorf, IA and from his second marriage, Rick (wife, Sara) of Sibley, IA; ten grandchildren, Tom (wife, Mary) Atwood, Sara (husband, Don) Buxhaum, Robert Bryan (wife, Kimberly) Ellis, Ben Ellis, Donald J., Troy, Andrew, and Amy Dirks, and Samantha and Riley Dirks; six great-grandchildren, Chloe Atwood, Ian Moore, Thomas Atwood III, Lauren Ellis, Colton Dirks and Tyler Dirks; two brothers, Bud (wife, Dorothy) Dirks and Alfred Dirks both of George, IA; many nieces, nephews and in-laws; and Rays companion his dog, Tarar who kept him company when Tena worked nights. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Donald Dirks; and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Mary and Vyron Wacker and Elaine and Noel Brunk.