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Dirks, Henry (1921-2001)
"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Apr 5 p. 23
Birth date: 1921 Jun 12
text of obituary:
HENRY DIRKS
Henry Dirks passed
away Dec. 12 in Chilliwack, B.C. He was born
June 12, 1921 to Henry
and Mary Dirks in
Tiege, Sagradowka,
Russia. In 1925 the
family immigrated to
Canada. He accepted
Christ in April 1939; he
was baptized by Peter
Janzen and joined
Philadelphia MB
Church in Watrous,
Sask. 3 years later. He
sang tenor in the choir.
He attended school until grade 6. He learned
the value of hard work
and making the best of
things with little money. In 1946 the family
bought a farm, with
cows and laying hens,
in Rosedale, B.C. He attended East Chilliwack
MB Church. He mar-
ried Anne Klassen June
22, 1947 in Yarrow
(B.C.) MB Church.
They lived on the
Rosedale farm. In 1952
they moved to a bigger
farm. In 1979 they began attending Broadway MB Church, Chilliwack. Church activities
where a major part of
his life. He and Anne
were part of the food
committee in both East
Chilliwack and Broadway churches. He had
a strong faith in his
Lord. He listened intently to Sunday morning services and attended mid-week Bible
studies. He was a member of the Tabor Home
board in Abbotsford,
B.C. for several years
and was involved with
Cheam Housing in
Chilliwack through
Broadway MB Church.
For many years, he and
Anne sold plants and
flowers at the MCC
auction. He was zone
treasurer for the Canadian Cancer Society for
several years. In 1979
they sold the farm, except for 1 acre, where
they built their retirement home. He loved
farming, knew the value of hard work and
had a heart to help
others. He would bale
hay for neighbours and
friends all day, go
home for supper, milk
the cows and go out
again. His beliefs were
founded in the Bible,
which he read faithfully. Every day he had his
Daily Bread devotions
and prayed for family
and world issues. He
enjoyed family times,
took an interest in what
his children were doing
and supported them as
best he could. Birthdays and Christmas
were special to him. In
retirement, they travelled across Canada
and to Alaska in their
motor home and visited the Holy Land and
Europe. He had several
heart attacks, beginning in September
1986. He underwent
open-heart surgery in
1990 and had a gallbladder operation in
1995. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's
in 1999 and prostate
cancer in 2000. He
moved to Mcintosh
Lodge Care Facility
Dec. 15, 2000. Predeceased by Anne, he is
mourned by daughter
Bernice Derksen; son
Dennis; grandchildren;
and 3 sisters.