Lorraine E. Dirksen

Lorraine E. Dirksen, 86, of rural Plymouth, IA, died Sunday, September 3, 2017, at her home. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, September 9, 2017, at the Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, 670 12th Street NE – Mason City, with Rev. Robert Harting officiating. Interment will take place at Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM on Friday, September 8, 2017, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue – Mason City, and continue one hour prior to the church service. Memorials may be directed to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society.

Lorraine Esther Martin was born August 30, 1931, at home on the family farm just south of Winside, NE, the daughter of Alfried Hermann Gotthold “Alfred Fred” and Clara Katherine (Reeg) Martin. The family moved to their farm west of Plymouth in 1937. Lorraine attended school in Plymouth, graduating from high school in 1949.

On April 13, 1952 (Easter Sunday), she married Walter Roy Dirksen at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Mason City. For most of their married life they lived in Mason City, moving to the farm near Plymouth in 2001.

During her career, Lorraine worked for S.S. Kresege, United Home Bank, Selective Service, and Iowa Workforce Development. She retired from Workforce Development in 1997, after 20 years of service.

Lorraine was a charter member of Gethsemane (now Prince of Peace) Lutheran Church, serving as a Sunday School teacher for many years. She was also active in the Mary-Martha Guild and in the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society.

Lorraine loved gardening and supporting her grandchildren and great grandchildren in their sporting events.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Walt (2011); her son Phil (2017); her parents, Alfred (1987) and Clara (1980); brothers, Milton “Milt” (2001), Gilbert (1985), and Phillip in infancy (1924); sisters-in-law, Catherine “Katie” Schmidt Ziegler in (1997) and Shirley Jaspersen (1968); brothers-in-law, Robert “Bob” Dirksen (2009) and Floyd Dirksen (2002); father-in-law, Ole Dirksen (1974); and mother-in-law, Eva (Newton) Dirksen (1965).

Lorraine is survived by her daughter-in-law, Shelly Dirksen of Plymouth; 3 sons, Paul (Christine) Dirksen of Mason City, Joel (Margrete) Dirksen of rural Plymouth, and John (Verna) Dirksen of Dows; foster son, Perry (Kelly) Groves of Tucson, AZ; grandchildren: Christa (Scott) Ryg of rural Plymouth, Amy (Brandon) Gilmet of DePere, WI, Daniel (Danielle) Dirksen of rural Plymouth, Eric (Leah) Dirksen of rural Plymouth, Nathan Dirksen of Colorado, Ryan Dirksen of Colorado, John Roger (J.R.) Dirksen of Mason City, Laken Rodemaker of Mason City, Arien Rodemaker of Osage, Sierra Dirksen of Dows, Matthew Dirksen of Plymouth, and Joshua Dirksen of Plymouth; great grandchildren: Alyssa, Zachary, Tristian, Vivica, Dawson, Delaney, Daphne, Micah, Emma, Brynlei, Laythum and Rozella; brother, LeRoy (Sharon) Martin of Port Charlotte, FL; sister-in-law, Evelyn (Allos) Martin Sanabria of Readstown, WI; and many nieces and nephews.