Dirks, Nelly Maria Dyck (1927-2002)

"Mennonite Brethren Herald" obituary: 2002 Nov 15 p. 25

Birth Date: 1927 Mar 7

text of obituary:

NELLY MARIA DIRKS

Nelly Maria Dirks passed away Oct. 5. She was born Mar. 7, 1927 to Jakob Isaak Dyck and Frieda Mayer in Ukraine. The family immigrated to Germany in 1929 and to Canada in 1934. They lived with a relative in Roblin, Man., then moved to Kildonan, Man. in 1936, where her father opened a manufacturing business. In her late teens she received Jesus as Lord and Saviour. In 1945 she was baptized and joined North Kildonan MB Church. She was always involved in church, serving especially in music. She worked as receptionist and bookkeeper in her father's business. On Feb. 3, 1967 she married Nicholas Klassen, who serviced their furnaces. They made frequent trips south in winter. In the early 1980s they moved to B.C and joined Bakerview MB Church in Abbotsford. She served as pianist for the Fellowship Choir and Gospel Singers. Nicholas died May 14, 1996. She married. Syl Dirks July 18, 1998; she became mother and grandmother of a 38-member clan and loved it. She had a heart for missions, con- tributing freely to her church, the food bank, Union Gospel Mission, Logos Canada, King- dom Ventures, Family Life Network, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Far East Broadcasting and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. She developed pain in late 2001 and was eventually found to have inoperable liver and pancreatic cancer. She is mourned by Syl; 2 stepsons; 5 stepdaughters; 1 half-brother and 2 sisters. The funeral was Oct. 5 in Bakerview MB Church, with Michael Dick and Jake Quiring ministering.