Obituary

Eldean Marie (Unruh) Dirks

Obituary

Eldean Marie (Unruh) Dirks, 87, passed quietly to eternal life on Monday (Dec. 20, 2010) surrounded by her son and nephews.

She was born in Coldwater on March 23, 1923. During her school years, she walked two miles to a one-room school. For high school, she boarded in Coldwater along with her sister, Thelma. She enjoyed home economics, playing the violin and singing in the chorus.

After graduation, she moved to Pawnee Rock (where her sister, Geneva Unruh, lived) to look for a job. While she attended the Bergthal Mennonite Church, she was baptized on her confession of faith on Nov. 22, 1942. She saw a good-looking blonde man in the choir at Bergthal and decided he was for her. That was Jim Dirks and he became her love, husband and companion for over 50 years after they were married on Sept. 5, 1942, at Bergthal Mennonite Church.

They lived in Idaho and Pennsylvania while Jim was in Civilian Public Service during World War Two. Later they moved to a Pawnee Rock farm.

Eldean became a community and church leader. Often she and he would sing a duet at church. A son, Dean, was born in 1947.

Eldean continued to work at Penney's and was a bookkeeper for the Sand and Gravel business they owned. In 1965 they moved to Newton, and Jim joined the Hesston Corporation. Eldean sold shoes for 20 years at Frontier Shoe Store. They were on the board for Et Cetera for many years, which was a joy for both of them.

Eldean can list a whole lot of favorites: Family, which includes her son, Dean, and wife, Jane Dirks; #1 grandson, Chad, and wife, Julie Dirks, and great-grandchild, Landen Dirks, all of Chicago; nephews, Donovan (Naomi) Unruh, Darrel (Wanda) Unruh, all of Newton, and Dennis (Kathy) Unruh of Wichita. She also enjoyed reading biographies, doing jigsaw puzzles and going to coffee with friends. She had set and scheduled days with some of her friends for coffee and chatting. Playing bridge and SkipBo on game nights were a special delight for her, and faithfully each week she studied her Sunday School lesson and attended church to round out her activities for the week.

Eldean also enjoyed bird watching and studying geography as it related to events in the daily world news. In her younger years she would have added fishing and camping to the list of activities for a full and productive life.

In 1995 they moved to Kidron Bethel. Jim died in 1999, and the patio without him was a lonely place. But it is always a special joy to visit Dean and Jane, Chad and Julie in Chicago.

She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Ella (Schmidt) Unruh; brothers, Elmer and George Unruh; and sisters, Geneva Unruh and Thelma Thomasson.

The visitation will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday with a memorial service at 10 a.m. Wednesday, both at the Faith Mennonite Church, 627 Northridge Road in Newton. Pastor Gordon Smith is the officiate.

Baker Funeral Home in Valley Center is in charge of the arrangements.