Evan A. Dirksen, 87, of Goessel, passed away on May 11, 2014, at the Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice In-Patient Center in Wichita.
He
was born on Feb. 16, 1927, in Goessel to Adolf N. and Martha Schmidt
Dirksen. He was the oldest of five children. Growing up on a wheat and
dairy farm, he attended a one-room elementary school in McPherson
County; he went on to graduate in 1945 from Goessel High School, where
he was salutatorian of his graduating class. He attended Bethel College,
North Newton.
He served in Civilian Public Service during
World War II
in Camp Camino near Sacramento, Calif., working in forestry. He was
later transferred to Mulberry, Fla., where he worked in construction.
After returning from CPS Service, he became a farmer working with his
parents on the family farm. He enjoyed his International
Harvester equipment and implements. His work ethic was reflected in his
ability to raise successful crops. He cared greatly for the land and
adopted conservation practices and once earned the soil conservation
award of the year in McPherson County. Evan was a member of the
Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church near Goessel and became a resident at
Bethesda Home in Goessel in January 2007.
Evan is survived
by two sisters, Erma Gallaway of Rose Hill and Velma and (Vernon) Frey
of Newton; two sister-in-laws, Arzella Dirksen of Denver, Colo., and
Sherland Dirksen of San Diego, Calif.; six nieces, Jan and (Kirk)
Williams of Castle Rock, Colo., Suzanne and (Jeff) Opp of Castle Rock,
Colo., Nancy Hjerstedt of San Diego, Calif., Ann Dirksen of Rye, N.Y.,
Lisa and (Mike) Schweigert of El Dorado, Lynette and (Kent) Erb of
Newton; five nephews, Jim Dirksen of Gunnison, Colo., Ron Frey of
Wichita, Bryan and (Megan) Frey of Houston, Texas, and Thad and (Beth)
Dirksen of San Diego, Calif., and Allen Gallaway of Andover; five
great-nieces; and 11 great-nephews. He was preceded in
death by his parents; two brothers, Melvin A. Dirksen and Dennis A.
Dirksen; and one great-nephew, Evan J. Dirksen.
A celebration of life
reception will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2014, in the
fellowship hall in Alexanderwohl Church, 1304 K-15 Highway near Goessel.
A private family inurnment will be at the Alexanderwohl Mennonite
Church Cemetery near Goessel. Memorials are suggested to Harry
Hynes Memorial Hospice and Bethesda Home, in care of Miller-Ott Funeral
Home, 303 E. Main, P.O. Box 96, Goessel, KS 67053.
