Dirks, Pete (1911-1943)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1943 Apr 1 p. 3, 7

Birth date: 1911 Jul 3

text of obituary:

PETE DIRKS

Pete Dirks, my beloved husband, son of Bro. and Sis. Dan Dirks, was born near Durham, Kan., on July 3, 1911. He passed from this life on march 10, 1943, in our home on the farm of his parents, near Montezuma, Kansas, at the age of 31 years, 8 months and 7 days. Cause of death was acute myocarditis, or heart trouble.

In 1915, at the age of four years, Pete, with his parents , moved to western Kansas, locating on a farm west of Montezuma. Here he received his education and grew to manhood. He was a cheerful boy and had good health until about the age of 15, when he suffered severely with inflammatory rheumatism, from which he recovered, but had light touches later in life. At the age of 18 years, feeling the need of a Saviour, he accepted Christ and upon forgiveness of his sins was added to the Church of God in Christ Mennonite by baptism, Feb. 9, 1930. to this faith he remained true, even though tempest tossed by the storms of life. He often felt his shortcomings and confessed his mistakes.

He joined hands in Holy Matrimony with me, Anna Koehn, June 28, 1931, not knowing that the joys kindled would be a short duration of only 11 years. He was a kind, affectionate husband, of a friendly and cheerful disposition.

We established a home near Montezuma, Kansas untill Sept. 2, 1939, when we moved to Burns, Kansas. Here we enjoyed many spiritual blessings with the Church, taking part in church activities. He also enjoyed good health until 1941, when he suffered a light heat attack from which he seemed to fully recover. On Dec. 10, 1942, he again had a heart attack but but [sic] was able to be up and about till Christmas and since then he was mostly bedfast. During his sickness he again reviewed his past life, acknowledging and confessing his mistakes and expressing himself as being ready to meet his God.

After much prayer and medical aid he improved so much that we moved back to Montezuma, arriving here Feb. 23, 1943, making our home near his parents. Wednesday night at 11:15 p.m., after mentioning that breathing was difficult, he calmly closed his eyes in death, leaving me, his deeply bereaved companion, his parents, 3 brothers, 6 sisters and a host of relatives and friends to mourn his early departure. One brother (in infancy), one brother-in-law, and grandparents preceded him in death. His grandparents passed away in the same home, all in less than two years.

We mourn, but not without hope, believing he is at rest with the Saviour — Wife and Parents.

Funeral services were held Monday, March 15 in the Montezuma Mennonite church. Text read by Rev. David J. Koehn, Psalms 39:4, Eccles. 9:10, from which he spoke comforting words. Rev. Ervin Harms made a short addition, reading from Luke 23:28. Burial was in the church cemetery.