Obituary for Raymond "Ray" L. Dirksen
Raymond “Ray” L. Dirksen I, age 68, of Danbury, Iowa, was welcomed into the loving arms of his Lord and Savior on Tuesday, August 20, 2019, surrounded by his family at the Horn Memorial Hospital of Ida Grove, Iowa.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 26, 2019, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury, Iowa. Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery of Danbury, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with a Knights of Columbus Rosary Service at 6:45 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury, Iowa. The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home and Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home are in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.armstrongfuneral.com or www.christensenvanhouten.com.
Raymond “Ray” Leo Dirksen I, was born on May 10, 1951, to Leo and Mary (Treiber) Dirksen, in Mapleton, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm southeast of Danbury, Iowa. Ray attended Danbury Catholic School through the 11th grade and graduated from Maple Valley High School with the class of 1969.
After high school, Ray went to work as a John Deere mechanic at Collins Implement in Mapleton, Iowa. On July 2, 1971, Ray married the love of his life Connie Jean Hinrickson in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury, Iowa. The couple made their first home in Mapleton and welcomed two daughters Tabitha and Monica.
The family relocated to Ida Grove, Iowa, in 1975 and Ray started his employment with Hultgren Implement where he continued his career as a John Deere mechanic. Ray and Connie welcomed their third child, son Raymond II. In 1977, the family moved to Danbury after Ray accepted the Service Manager position at Collins Implement. They welcomed their fourth child a daughter Tiffany. After Collins Implement closed its doors for service, Ray returned to Hultgren Implement as a mechanic. In 1991, the family moved to the Hinrickson family acreage southeast of Danbury. During this time Ray also farmed from 1988-1993. His last employment was with Crop Production Services of Danbury until his diagnoses in 2012 with progressive supranuclear palsy.
Ray relished spending time with his family and playing with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed travelling dirt roads in his JEEP, tractor pulls, horseback riding, snowmobiling, motorcycle rides, John Deere green, and tinkering in his shop. This hardworking outdoor family man loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and treasured every moment. Through his battle he remained humble and courageous. Our family chain is broken but we will forever cherish the memories.
He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years Connie Dirksen of Danbury, IA; children Tabitha (Dan) Bockelman of Battle Creek, IA, Monica (Jeffrey) Erickson of Cannon Falls, MN, Raymond (Carrie) Dirksen II of Adel, IA and Tiffany (Michael) Snead of Overland Park, KS; grandchildren: Camryn Snead, Lucas Erickson, Elizabeth Dirksen, Abigail Dirksen, Harper Snead and Scott Bockelman; brother Fred (Fanchon) Dirksen of Danbury, IA; sisters Lois Miller (special friend James “Jim” Pester) of Charter Oak, IA and Janice (Leon) Petersen of Hinton, IA; best friends and companions Dude & Tucker; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Mary Dirksen; in-laws Louie and Arleen Hinrickson; faithful companion Toby; brother-in-law William “Bill” Miller; nieces Maria Miller, Mary Miller and Shelly Dawdy.
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A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, August 26, 2019, at the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury, Iowa. Father Richard D. Ball will officiate. Committal Services will follow in the Danbury Catholic Cemetery of Danbury, Iowa. A Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with a Knights of Columbus Rosary Service at 6:45 p.m. and a Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 25, 2019, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Danbury, Iowa. The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home and Christensen-Van Houten Funeral Home are in charge of the funeral arrangements. Condolences may be sent online at www.armstrongfuneral.com or www.christensenvanhouten.com.
Raymond “Ray” Leo Dirksen I, was born on May 10, 1951, to Leo and Mary (Treiber) Dirksen, in Mapleton, Iowa. He grew up on the family farm southeast of Danbury, Iowa. Ray attended Danbury Catholic School through the 11th grade and graduated from Maple Valley High School with the class of 1969.
After high school, Ray went to work as a John Deere mechanic at Collins Implement in Mapleton, Iowa. On July 2, 1971, Ray married the love of his life Connie Jean Hinrickson in the St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Danbury, Iowa. The couple made their first home in Mapleton and welcomed two daughters Tabitha and Monica.
The family relocated to Ida Grove, Iowa, in 1975 and Ray started his employment with Hultgren Implement where he continued his career as a John Deere mechanic. Ray and Connie welcomed their third child, son Raymond II. In 1977, the family moved to Danbury after Ray accepted the Service Manager position at Collins Implement. They welcomed their fourth child a daughter Tiffany. After Collins Implement closed its doors for service, Ray returned to Hultgren Implement as a mechanic. In 1991, the family moved to the Hinrickson family acreage southeast of Danbury. During this time Ray also farmed from 1988-1993. His last employment was with Crop Production Services of Danbury until his diagnoses in 2012 with progressive supranuclear palsy.
Ray relished spending time with his family and playing with his grandchildren. He also enjoyed travelling dirt roads in his JEEP, tractor pulls, horseback riding, snowmobiling, motorcycle rides, John Deere green, and tinkering in his shop. This hardworking outdoor family man loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events and treasured every moment. Through his battle he remained humble and courageous. Our family chain is broken but we will forever cherish the memories.
He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years Connie Dirksen of Danbury, IA; children Tabitha (Dan) Bockelman of Battle Creek, IA, Monica (Jeffrey) Erickson of Cannon Falls, MN, Raymond (Carrie) Dirksen II of Adel, IA and Tiffany (Michael) Snead of Overland Park, KS; grandchildren: Camryn Snead, Lucas Erickson, Elizabeth Dirksen, Abigail Dirksen, Harper Snead and Scott Bockelman; brother Fred (Fanchon) Dirksen of Danbury, IA; sisters Lois Miller (special friend James “Jim” Pester) of Charter Oak, IA and Janice (Leon) Petersen of Hinton, IA; best friends and companions Dude & Tucker; numerous nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents Leo and Mary Dirksen; in-laws Louie and Arleen Hinrickson; faithful companion Toby; brother-in-law William “Bill” Miller; nieces Maria Miller, Mary Miller and Shelly Dawdy.
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
25
Aug
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
St. Mary's Catholic Church-Danbury
604 Peach Street
Danbury, IA 51019
Knight of Columbus Rosary at 6:45 p.m. Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.
Mass of Christian Burial
Monday
26
Aug
11:00 AM
St. Mary's Catholic Church-Danbury
604 Peach Street
Danbury, IA 51019
Cemetery Details
Location
Danbury Catholic Cemetery
Danbury, IA 51019
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