Dirks, Amos Jacob (1886-1969)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Nov 13 p. 7

Birth date: 1886 Aug 24

text of obituary:

Retired Minister Dies at Moundridge

Moundridge, Kan. — Rev. A. J. Dirks, 83, retired minister of the General Conference Mennonite Church, died at Mercy Hospital here on Nov. 5.

The funeral was conducted on Nov. 8 at the Garden Mennonite Church, where he had served as pastor from 1934 to 1948. Rev. Leonard Harder, the present pastor, and Rev. J. J. Regier officiated.

Rev. Dirks and Rev. Ted Roth were ordained to the ministry in 1923 and served as co-pastors of the Swiss Mennonite church in Whitewater. During retirement Rev. Dirks also ministered to the Friedensthal Mennonite Church near Hillsboro for some time, and was active as field representative for Central Kansas Bible Academy, now Central Christian High school, in Hutchinson.

Survivors include his widow, the former Anna Marie Zuercher, three sons, Dr. Marvin J. Dirks of Boston, Mass., Norman of Oakland, Calif., and Rev. Virgil Dirks of Omaha, Neb.; two daughters, Floreine [sic Florence], a missionary in Nigeria, and Mrs. Marlin Sperling of Moundridge; 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; one brother and three sisters.

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Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1969 Dec 18 p. 11

text of obituary:

REV. A. J. DIRKS

Amos Jacob Dirks was born on Aug. 24, 1886, near Lehigh, Kan. to Andrew Karl and Caroline (Unruh) Dirks. His boyhood days were spent on farms in the Halstead area.

He came to know the Lord at the age of 10 while his mother prayed for him, and was baptized on June 14, 1908, in Halstead Mennonite Church where Dr. J. H. Langenwalter was pastor.

On March 3, 1910, he was married to Marie Zuercher of Whitewater. They made their first home on the Dyck place northwest of Halstead. The Lord blessed this union with five children and almost 60 years of happy married life.

In 1915 they moved to Montana and lived on a homestead. He often spoke of their eight years there (seven of which saw complete crop failure) as a "school of faith." It was there he recognized God's claim on his life and answered the call to the Gospel ministry.

In May of 1923 he and Ted Roth were ordained by Rev. John Roth and Rev. P. P. Wedel and became co-pastor of the Swiss Mennonite Church of Whitewater. In 1934 he became pastor of Garden Township Mennonite Church, where he served the Lord for 14 years, and remained a member until his death.

His burden for young people to have a real Christian education caused him to travel many miles as field representative for what was then "Central Kansas Bible Academy" in Hutchinson to help bring that school into being and see it through its early years.

It was also his privilege to minister to the Friedensthal Mennonite congregation for some time.

He suffered a severe stroke in October 1965, but was marvelously restored. Following this they moved from the farm to the present home in Moundridge. Other strokes followed, finally hospitalizing him n Oct. 17, 19698, and on Nov. 5, 1969, he was called to be "with the Lord, which is far better."

Preceding him in death were three brothers, Henry, Pete, and Herman, and three sisters, Lena, Carrie, and Luana, and also his oldest granddaughter, Lois Dirks Newman, her husband Gene, and her three youngest children, who served the Lord in West Irian under Missionary Aviation Fellowship.

The family surviving him are his wife, Anna; three sons, Dr. Marvin J. and wife Frieda of Boston, Mass., Norman and wife Effie of Oakland, Calif., Virgil and wife Marian of Omaha, Nebr.; two daughters, Floreine, missionary to Nigeria, and Salome and husband Marlin Sperling of Moundridge; 19 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren; one brother, Ben, of Union City, Mich.; three sisters, Eva of Wichita, Agnes (Mrs. L. G. Little) of Wichita, and Dora smith of Moundridge, and many other relatives and friends.

His challenge to us all was to live with eternity's values in view, and his greatest joy was that of witnessing to others about his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The funeral service was held at Garden Mennonite Church on Nov. 8, 1969, at 2 o'clock, conducted by Rev. Leonard Harder and Rev. J. J. Regier. the music was by a male quartet. The committal service was conducted by his brother-in-law, Rev. P. P. Tschetter.

A memorial has been established for Missionary Aviation Fellowship.