Obituary

Marie E. (Dirks) Loepp, 87, died Tuesday (Oct. 28, 2003) at Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton.

She was born Sept. 4, 1916, to Abraham and Agatha (Pauls) Dirks in Newton. They preceded her in death. She married Henry T. Loepp Aug. 27, 1943, at Mennonite Brethren Church in Buhler. He preceded her in death April 3, 1992.

She grew up in the Moundridge area and graduated from Moundridge High School. She worked in the engineering department for Hesston Corporation where she was responsible for office work and reduction of blue prints to micro-film. She worked part-time from 1956 to 1968 and full-time from 1968 until her retirement in 1979. She was a former member of Buhler Mennonite Brethren Church and a charter member of Hesston Mennonite Brethren Church. She most recently was a member of Koerner Heights Mennonite Brethren Church in Newton. She was actively involved in church life, serving on committees, boards and as a Sunday school teacher. She enjoyed sewing, crocheting, gardening, canning and baking, especially zwieback and cinnamon rolls. Family meals together remained important to her throughout her life.

Survivors include: two daughters, Marjorie Barge and husband Bernie of Hesston and Judy Troyer and husband Jim of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandsons, Dean Troyer of Kansas City, Mo., and Scott Barge of Klaipeda, Lithuania; a granddaughter, Denise Goevert and husband Chris of Hesston; and six great-grandchildren, Andrew, Nathan, Jonathan, Hannah, Tyler and Haley.

She also was preceded in death by: two brothers, an infant brother and Edward P. Dirks; and two sisters, Alma Hiebert and Linda Brown.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday with family greeting friends from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Broadway Colonial Funeral Home.

Graveside service will 10 a.m. Saturday at Hesston Municipal Cemetery.

Memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Koerner Heights Church with Pastor Lynn Jost of Tabor College, Pastor Leonard Reiss of the church and Chaplain Art Maddock of Hospice of Kansas officiating.

Memorials have been established with Kidron Bethel Village Health Care Center and Hospice of Kansas, both in care of the funeral home.