Merle Dirks July 6, 1934 – Sept. 13, 2019

Merle Dirks, age 85, died peacefully, Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, following a brief illness. 

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday morning, Sept. 17, 2019 at the Wayne Zion Lutheran Church, rural Monticello with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery. Rev. Wade Reddy officiated at the services. Friends called from 4 until 7 p.m. Monday at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello. Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at www.goettschonline.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested. 

Surviving is his wife Etta, two sons Doug (Trish) of Apple Valley, Minn., Dennis (Michelle) of Coggon, six grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, a brother, Loren (Barbara), and sisters-in-law, Betty Dirks, Betty Payne, Laura (Loras) Webber, all of Monticello, Judi Dirks of Chaska, Minn., and Ruth (Stan) Schatz of Osage. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Gerald and Eldon. 

Merle August Dirks was born, July 6, 1934 in Wayne Township, Jones County, Iowa. He was the son of August and Loretta Wilken, Dirks. He received his early education in the rural schools of Wayne Township. Merle graduated from the Monticello Community Schools with the class of 1953. Merle married Etta Reuter on Oct. 9, 1955 at St. John Lutheran Church, rural Monticello. The couple farmed in Wayne Township. Merle also worked as a carpenter for Don Drebelbis. In later years he worked in the maintenance department for the Monticello Community Schools. He was a bus driver for the school system as well. For many years Merle mowed the lawn and cemetery at Wayne Zion. He loved to go for rides through the countryside. Merle was a lifelong member of Wayne Zion Lutheran Church where he was baptized on July 28, 1934 and confirmed his faith on March 21, 1948.