Raymond Dirksen, age 87, of Sibley, Iowa, passed away on Monday, March 17, 2014 at the Country View Manor in Sibley.
Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 22, 2014 at 9:30 A.M. at the Andringa Funeral Home in Sibley. Rev. Terry Simm officiating. Graveside Services and Burial will be at 1:30 P.M. at Good Hope Cemetery in Titonka, Iowa. Visitation will be Saturday, one hour prior to the Funeral Service at the Andringa Funeral Home in Sibley.
Online Expressions of Sympathy can be sent to www.andringafuneralhome.com
The Andringa Funeral Home of Sibley in charge of arrangements for Raymond Dirksen.
Raymond Herman Dirksen was born on July 28, 1926 in Kanawha, Iowa. He was the son of Reinhardt and Adele (Heesch) Dirksen. He was baptized in the German Lutheran Church in Titonka, Iowa. Ray lived his youth in Kanawha where he attended school, and at the age of 12, started helping his father in their hardware store and with farm chores. He graduated from Kanawha High School. He served in the United States Navy during World War 11, as an Electrician aboard ship and in Guam, attaining the rank of Petty Officer, he was honorably discharged. Ray attended Iowa State University and received a Bachelor of Science degree in animal science. He moved to Sibley in 1955 and worked as a County Extension Director of Iowa State University. In 1970,Raymond worked at First National Bank as Vice President and with farm loans, for 15 years. He also sold farm and residential property and was an appraiser working as Dirksen Agriculture Consulting.
Ray was a member of the Methodist Church in Sibley and later the Presbyterian Church in Sibley. He was a member of Kiwanis for over 30 years, holding several offices. He was an American Legion member for over 60 years, where he served as Chaplain. He judged the corn and vegetable competition at the Little Rock Corn Show. Ray served on the Hospital Board, Sibley School Board, and also on the Economic Development Committee. He was very community oriented. He received the Distinguished Service Award from U.S.D.A.
Ray will be remembered as a person who enjoyed helping others. He volunteered at the hospital and nursing homes.
He passed away on Monday, March 17, 2014 at the Country View Manor in Sibley.
Those left to cherish his memories are his daughter, Ila (Ric) Benzing of Monona, IA; two sons, Ray E. Dirksen of Worthington, MN and Hal D. Dirksen of W. St. Paul, MN; 3 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; one brother, Mervin Dirksen of Clear Lake, IA; one sister, Serena Helton of Des Moines, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents, infant daughter, sister-in-law, and brother-in-law.
