The Dirks Newsletter
March 2012
"Touched by a Rainbow from the Land of
Oz"
The Dirks Newsletter is compiled monthly and mailed around the 5th. The newsletter is mailed to those who write each month and to those who are unable to write due to health reasons. The purpose of the newsletter is to provide material for those doing genealogy research and to keep family and friends aware of current events. Please send your inputs to “The Dirks Newsletter", 410 S. Westview Derby, KS 67037. The newsletter will be posted on the website http:/jrdirks.com email jrdirks55@att.net
Bockelmann,
Dave & Norine 18
Mar 12
2642 Maple Ave
Slayton,
MN 56172
Hi! I finally discovered that I could just
go to Google Chrome; not through Internet Explorer. We have been busy packing
up to move again; found a nice six and a half acre farm site just about eight
miles from Jerry and Linda. We’re just too country
even for a small town and can’t wait to get back to gardening and raising pets
again. We already have two black lab cross pups--if 40 pound pups is still a
pup--and are managing to feed, house and train them here in town by keeping
them kenneled in the garage and walking them four times a day. With the nice
weather, they love just laying around on the patio. We’ll be moving the middle
of April and they will be able to run free then.
Dave
went back to work driving for Fortune Transportation today and, of course, the
wind had to be gusting out of the south. He’s doing electronic driver logs for
the first time so he has to get used to the computer format. Our new address
is: 46540 County Road 22, Windom, MN 56101. Our e-mail
is: ndbock43@gmail.com. The farm place was home to an avid gardener both flowers and
vegetables and we might even get some chickens and ducks. Jerry and Linda are
getting out of chickens and dogs so they think we’ve lost our minds, I’m sure!
We hope this note finds everyone well and happily blessed!
Love, Norine and Dave
Dirks, Duane & Inez 29
Mar 12
133
Archdale Drive
Kingsport
TN, 37663
March, a month to remember, daylight savings time is here and much
appreciated but somehow still only get 24 hours is the day, somebody else must
be getting my extra hour. [:-) Only another couple of weeks and the tax man
cometh to empty your wallets of anything you have left and probably try to get
what ain't there too. Kind of a crazy time of the
year, daylight savings, taxes, green grass and storms, ought to be plenty to
think about but then add in all the political meadow muffins and it’s no wonder
folks feel overwhelmed at times.
Keeping busy here,
plenty of yard and garden work to let us know that we have aged a bit and
reaching for the bottles of pain meds. We have about half of our garden
planted, onions (bulbs), lettuce, broccoli, potatoes, cauliflower and cabbage
and one pretty good sized tomato plant ( has blossoms that we put in hoping to
get a few early tomatoes) and lots of rhubarb. I planted some bamboo in the
back of the lot, hope to see them turn in to a thicket in the next few year,
block off the wooded area back there. Bamboo does grow here and this variety
gets to more than 25 feet tall. It is a bit of an invasive species but can
easily be controlled by just mowing off the new shoots that come up where you
don’t want them.
Sun’s
up, time for me to get a move on and accomplish something, so, will quit for
now and wish all of the Dirks Clan good health and happiness.
Duane and Inez
Dirks, Florence 27 Mar 12
1936 23rd St #2
Spirit Lake, IA 513560-1087
It’s cold today and windy, the snow is all gone. The grass is growing and they will have to mow soon. I saw the mowers mowing at the hospital and medical center on Sunday.
I had a doctor’s appointment on Monday and got a good
report. I see the hearing aid person next Wednesday.
Darold called, I asked if they were coming this summer
and he said it depended on the price of gas, it is $374/gal here. It just went
up 10¢ on Monday.
I sure don’t like the time change. I almost didn’t get
to church on time Sunday. The ice is almost gone from the lakes.
I am still knitting. I have to haul my cans and
plastic to the dumpsters at the grocery store when I do my shopping.
My last newsletter sure was torn up and it wasn’t
sealed anymore, I was lucky I got it. There were pieces torn off but there was
enough left that I could read.
I wish everyone well and thanks for the news.
Love,
Florence
Dirks, John & Ruth 4
Apr 12
410 S. Westview
Derby,
KS 67037
We don’t seem to get much done—except we always
seem to be busy. I have averaged about two days a week subbing, did the taxes,
newsletter, going to the doctor and taking Ruth to her appointments. Ruth will
have cataract surgery this Friday.
Spring arrived early so did some work on
the yard equipment and the yard. We are getting timely rains. The winter wheat
is over knee high and the corn and beans that were planted early are coming up.
We are about three weeks ahead of normal. Trees are all leafed out and some are
done blooming—so are the flowers.
I taught a class on Tuesday about
volcanoes. The teacher said she was going to give a quiz on Wednesday. I was
subbing in class across the hall on Wednesday so I checked to see how they
did—she said she had five who got100%. I felt pretty good about that. Today I
taught a chapter on Force and Energy.
I am working on lawnmowers, tillers, etc.
in my spare time under the shade tree. Ruth is working on quilts for the needy
and care groups.
I was going to update the birthday
files—but at first I couldn’t find my program and then it wanted to duplicate
all the names—so I have put that off for a while.
It was great to hear from Jo Ann and also
get a good report on Ray.
John & Ruth
Dirks,
Marvin & LaVonne 28
Mar 12
17326
590th St.
Fonda, IA 50574
The month of March started out like a lab
and the temperatures gradually got warmer too.
We got to the 80’s the second and third weeks and it sounds like we will
have a warm weekend again. It’s really too warm some days. Our state
climatologist states that January ranked as the 17th warmest and the
34tyh driest among 140 years of records. This also was the warmest January
since 2006 and the driest since 2003.
We observed World Day of Prayer in our
area churches on Friday, March 2. That weekend and the next found us at Eldora
with horseshoe games. We are still busy with Last Supper services.
Zach made is home here for a few days
while Leann and Tom flew to Scottsdale, AZ to and IMT Group 2012 and GEM trip.
They enjoyed their vacations. Zach was in the jazz band with the swing choir
performing two nights at the Rialto Theatre in Pocahontas. Oh! To be young again.
We were saddened this month by the passing of
Marv’s uncle Harry Johnson. We attended his funeral service at the UCC church
in Fonda.
We did make it to Kerry and Sandy’s in
Omaha one weekend and enjoyed the shopping malls there. Alysia
was home for spring break from the U of NE. We found her working at Gordman’s .
Marv attended the Pro Build Buying Show at
Sioux Falls, SD last Friday. He went in a van with other contractors to the
show.
Last Saturday was grandson Nick’s finance,
Nikki Schwarty’s bridal shower in Pocahontas at the
library. Her mother and two sisters came from Preston, MN for the special
event. They will be married there at Christ Lutheran on Saturday, June 23,
2012.
As the months goes by
and it is getting closer to the reunion. We sure hope it works out in
your plans to make the trip. We plan to meet on June 16 at the Pizza Ranch in Pocahontas. Prices for the meal are Adults $9.62, Seniors $8.66 12 years and under 60¢ x age. Motels: Pocahontas Inn and Suites 877-335-4475,
Storm Lake Super 8 712-732-3063, Storm Lake Baymont
Inn Suites 712-732-1000. Email for Lavonne thru her daughter
leannpowers@questoffice.net.
We want to wish everyone a “Happy and
Blessed Easter with your family and friends. Enjoy the spring will all its
blessings. We pray for continued good help with the Lord’s help.
Marv and LaVonne
Foley, Jo Ann 06
Apr 12
610 W. 6th St.
Storm Lake, IA 50588
Spring is here! And that means tax season
is almost over - yeah. I have been very busy the last few months, and business
has been good. Praise God!
It is hard to believe Skyler will be graduating high school in another month. He
is planning on study engine mechanics in the fall at Iowa Central Community
College (Fort Dodge). Matt is in 8th grade and doing well. He has his driver’s
permit, so it has been fun (or should I say scary, lol)
teaching him to drive. Faith is in 1st grade, and she is reading chapter books
already. She says she doesn’t like to read, but she reads very well. She was
able to participate in challenge this year and really enjoyed that.
My dad, Ray Vring, has been cancer free
and doing much better lately. He did go to the eye doctor recently and has
cataracts on both eyes. He will be having surgery April 19th on one and early
May for the other.
Well I have work to do, but I wish you all
a great month! Take care and God Bless!
----Jo Ann
Hartman, Mary Lou 27
Mar 12
PO Box 574
Manson, IA 50563-0574
Hello to Everyone in Dirks Land. I hope
this isn't to late I keep forgetting to write, to many
things going on. Hope everyone is doing fine. Boots and I are doing fine, he's
a lot of company, and enjoys the warm weather, we go to the Water Tower park
for our walks, he loves to run.
This Tuesday A.M. it was our day to go out
for breakfast to Twin Lakes. We have two tables full of women form Manson when
we go, we take turns driving. We spend about an hour and a half out there. The lake
was rough this A.M.
My family is doing fine. I went to my
great-granddaughters baptism on Saturday night. On Sunday watch my grandson
Heath in the high school musical he was Romeo Scragg
it was really good. My granddaughter Amanda and her son Max comes
over on Wednesday night while Joe goes to CCD class, Boots really enjoys that. Melinda
and Marlene stop in they both work here in Manson.
We have been having some beautiful
weather, but it doesn't sound good for next two days. I can't believe we're mowing lawns
in March.
God Bless you
all, Mary Lou Hartman
Ihnen,
Jeffery & Marcia 3
Apr 12
2705 S
13th St
Arlington,
VA 22204
March
was like many of our months with activities involving church and Boy Scouts. Marcia
continued to spend a fair amount of time in March helping one of our friends
with her health issues.
Our
church participated in a hypothermia program sponsored by a group in Fairfax county again this year from February 26 - March 3. The group
makes arrangements for churches to house and feed the homeless during the cold
months of the year, although this year wasn’t exactly cold. Marcia was the late
afternoon coordinator for the week.
Marcia
spent some of her time in March with the planning stages for this year’s Synodical Women’s convention which was held on March 31st.
Jeffrey
spent much of his spare time with the Boy Scouts, including a Saturday activity
for the last year cub scouts to move into Boy Scouts and a campout in a
location for which, as hard as it is to believe anymore, no real cell phone
coverage.
Jeffrey
and Marcia attended started the spring lecture series at Mount Vernon. The
lectures are presented by authors of recently published historical books, who
are then available to sign copies of the book for those who are interested.
This year’s first book was entitled American Emperor and dealt with Aaron
Burr’s challenge to Thomas Jefferson.
On
March 24-28, Marcia and Jeffrey visited his mom, as well as spending some time
with most of the rest of the family. One of the high points was sitting in
Stephanie’s kitchen watching a calf being born on the TV from a camera
installed in the barn. Marcia thought the calf should be named Marcia, but it
turned out to be a Marcus.
Joel
continued to work at Ski Chalet which has now morphed into Patio Place, and he
will stay on to sell patio furniture. Andrew is wrapping up his thesis and
hopes to defend it in April.
We
hope everyone had a blessed Easter and we are looking forward to warmer
weather.
Until next month, Jeffrey, Marcia, Andrew & Joel
Ihnen,
Kerry & Joan 2
Apr `12
9452 E
3300 N Rd
Steator,
IL
Hi Dirks Family, Kerry came home to Illinois the first weekend of
the month and we purchased an enclosed trailer in preparation to move some
furniture to our house in St. Ansger Iowa. He came to
Illinois again March 16 and we filled the trailer with a couch, table, chairs,
buggy bench, and numerous boxes of things to make our Iowa house into a home.
We spent the next week at our new house enjoying the great weather.
We
even had a cookout one evening with Stephanie, Butch, Naomi, Aydan, and Mary.
We also went up to the cities to visit Edna and Olie
Arends one day. Now I’m in Illinois getting more things ready for Iowa. Kerry
will be working in Omaha Nebraska all summer so I am going to move to the St. Ansger house for the summer once school gets out. Hope this
finds all of you well and enjoying wonderful early spring weather.
Joanie and Kerry
Ihnen, Mary
410 N
10th St
Northwood, IA 50549
Hi, wrote the other way
but for some reason or other always seems to get goofed up, so am writing
this. No circle this month as some couldn’t make it and was double
funeral at church. Wife and husband died 12 hours apart. Nice way
to go but hard on family but they were both in poor health. I went to the
funeral because the wife had been in my study club a number of years.
Bryan came and did my taxes the 12th—not was like I expected them to be.
That’s always good news.
Kerry and Joanie came on
the 18th through the 25th. Joanie was on spring break and Kerry took a
week vacation time. They moved some furniture to their stone house.
Jeffrey and Marcia came on the 24th and Joel and Jean and Julia also
came. J, and J and J went home on Sunday and Jeffrey and Marcia flew home
on the 28th. Short visit but was sure glad to see them. While they
were here went out to Butch and Stephanie’s and got there in time to sew a calf
being born—new experience for the three of us.
Sure quiet around here
when everyone left. I spent the last three days reading as books were due
31st. Got Jace’s quilt all quilted with facing left. Did have my
blood checked the 21st and was told I could go a month.
Mary Ihnen
Just,
Jerry & Linda 28
Mar 12
31214
County Road 45
Bingham
Lake, MN 56118
Hi from Minnesota. It has been a nice
winter—hardly any snow. Now the weather has been just great. It sure is warmer
than normal. On the 25th of March our apricot tree was in full
bloom, hope it gets pollinated okay. Our cherry tree is getting ready to bloom.
It really is an early spring.
We have kept busy this winter sewing,
woodworking, cooking and cleaning—the regular stuff. Joe’s family is coming
home for Palm Sunday. Gretchen and family will come the next week. I guess we
will celebrate Easter in shifts. We love having them come home.
A lot of branches came down after we had
an ice storm with wind. We have them all cleaned up—there is always something
to do.
Hope everyone who is having health
problems are getting them under control. We all have to keep trying. John, I
hope you and Ruth are doing okay. It does keep one busy with all the doctor
appointments and such.
Happy Easter to everyone and we hope
everyone is doing fine.
From Minnesota, Jerry and
Linda
McGinley,
Henry & Mary 10
Mar 12
5060
370th St. Box 27
Darlington,
MO 64438
Hello
from Missouri. We just brought Gene home from the hospital yesterday (March 9).
He still has a long way to go before he is well. He has to retrain his stomach
to receive and process food and because of this, he us sick to his stomach most
of the time. The doctor did what they call the Wipple
procedure that included removal of the gall bladder, a small portion of the
lower stomach, a small part of the small intestine and
half of the pancreas. They then had to reconnect all of it. He will have to be
on a medication to control his sugar from now on. They have come a long way in
the surgical field in the last few years.
We
have received so many cards, calls, words of encouragement, and help taking
care of things at home while we were gone. Money was sent to help with the food
expenses while we were there. There were those who traveled great distance to
visit Gene while he was in the hospital. The kids stayed in Omaha with us for
several days during the stay of which was a great comfort. Kevin drove us to
and from Omaha when Gene needed to be there. Most of all we had people praying
for Gene from coast to coast. As William Shakespeare said" How far that
little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world."
I
am going to close for now as I have a lot of catching up to do now that I am a
God bless, Gene & Mary
Meyer,
Mildred 20
Mar 12
Box 92
Manson,
IA 50563
March had extra warm weather which made
the flowers pop us early, but it is very dry and grass fires happen often.
My maple trees begin to bud out early but
the spring season soon starts. There really were more flocks of duck and white
Canadian geese flying over and stopping a few days on the town’s lagoon.
The rhubarb plants are doing good and then
the asparagus meals. Our post office every spring still has baby chickens
coming in for country delivery.
I have been visiting Ed at the nursing
home and hearing about all their many activities there for the elderly
residents.
Hope everyone has a Very Blessed and Happy
Easter.
Mildred
Nelson,
Marj 26
Mar 12
11937 Aneta St
Culver
City, CA 90230
Hi! How are things going? It seems like every time I try to do anything
on the computer I have to chance passwords.
I am getting tired of trying to get new passwords all the time. I tried to use the same one and just when I
get that set up, I always need to change.
I don't know if it is because I am using different computer.
Not too much going on around here. Last week Sandra went to the doctor because
she was having a pain in her shoulder and neck on her left side and of course
they said don't use that arm. I woke up
one morning and I was having pains in my right arm. It seemed to be mostly in the bones. i
couldn't even hold a pencil. I took a vicadin and just kept my arm still and in a day it finally
went away.
We did get some rain on Saturday night and
all day Sunday. I was watching the basketball
games. I picked Kansas to win so I am still in the running.
<4 Apr 12>I am here at Roger's and
Sunday we will be going to Sandra's for Easter. It depends on if I hear
from the doctors if I come back here as Jamie will be on spring break next
week.
I don't know if it is me or this computer
is sure getting slow. I have a hard time signing on and wait forever for
screens to come up. I don't know how many times I have changed my
password. Also, what is bad when you only have the cell phone is
forgetting to bring the charger. Not having a cell phone and computer working
is very frustrating and I don't have much patients. I went to Radio Shack
to see if they had a charger and he looked at my phone and said we don't have
anything that old. I said I haven't even had a phone a year yet. I
told Roger and he said he had some old chargers maybe one of them would work
and guess what the first one he tried worked so I am charging up my phone
Hope all is
going well with you both and keep in touch,
Marj
Nomann,
Larene 20
Mar 12
906 4th
Ave NW
Pocahontas,
IA 50574-1212
Well spring has sprung, and as of today we
have had little rain off and on, but more is forecast for the next four days.
The farmers have started preparing the fields to plant corn as it has been in
the 70’s and 80’s for quite a few days.
I got home the first of March after
spending three weeks in Arizona with Darv and Kath, granddaughter Tiff and
Hayden and grandson Barry, who will continue to live in Arizona and fly out of Minneapolis instead of
Houston. I also visited my friends, Dave and Mary Martins who live in
Pocahontas and winter in Arizona. Since I got home I also worked a few days on
the World Relief Quilts, the ones that are going to be shipped. I also have my
taxes done, which is always a big relief. The years seem to go by so fast.
As spring has arrived.
A fellow in Pocahontas who has a motorcycle checks my Moped every year
including tires, oil, etc. The lawns are turning green. My neighbor Darwin
Eaton checks the oil and sharpens the blade on my little mower. I sometimes do
a little trimming, etc.
I plan to go to Elaine’s in Des Moines for
Easter.
A Happy Easter To All, Larene
Perkins,
Butch and Stephanie 31
Mar 12
1919 510th St.
Northwood, IA 50549
Hello
everyone!! Left Northwood on March 1st
heading to Texas/Mexico for what has become an annual trip for my
mother-in-law, Irma, and myself. We head to Texas to
visit Irma's "winter snowbird friends/relatives". We arrived in Alamo, TX, on March 3rd staying
until March 10th. We went to South Padre
Island; three trips to Progresso, Mexico; flea market at Don-West; visit with
Irma's relatives; BBQ; and local sight seeing. We were joined by my brother-in-law, David;
his friend, Steven; and cousin, Susie.
Had loads of fun! We arrived back
home afternoon of March 12th. Butch was not
able to come as this is start of calving season for us back home. May have to change dates next year and go
earlier so Butch can join us. Had
beautiful weather while we were there BUT came home to beautiful weather
also.
Continue
with reading at school with kindergarten and 2nd grade. I have noticed improvement in reading skills
for both levels. Did have week off as
spring break but now back in the swing of things. We did have little excitement in Northwood on
March 16th. A little girl was killed a
year ago (May, 2011) while attempting to board school bus. Lot of work was done and resulted in passing of Kadyn's
Law (imposes tougher penalities for passing stopped
school bus). Governor Branstad was in town to sign it into law on that date. Kadyn was in my
grandson's class at that time; all the 2nd graders were asked to be there to
have picture taken with Governor Branstad. I see now that it has been introduced as
possible Federal law where states must adopt Iowa's law or face sanctions/lose
money.
Joannie and Kerry were here from March 17th - March 25th as
spring break for Joannie; vacation for Kerry. Joannie, Kerry,
Mom, and I headed to Minneapolis on the 20th for a visit with Aunt Edna and
Uncle Olie. We
had a great lunch and great visit. Good
to see them. Both seem to be doing
pretty good at this time. Had BBQ at Joannie and Kerry's new place by St. Ansgar
on Thursday, 22nd for them; Mom, Naomi and Aydan, Butch and me. Butch and I went to the Surf in Clear Lake on
Friday, 23rd, with friends to see Bill Engvall (comedian). Had great dinner and lots of laughs. Jeffrey & Marcia arrived on the 24th as
well as Joel and Jean. All went to
dinner Northwestern Steak House in Mason City (DELICIOUS)!! Joel, Jean and Julia spent the evening at our
house. Had lunch together at Mom's on
Sunday, 25th. Joannie
and Kerry as well as Joel, Jean and Julia headed for home that day. Lunch with Jeffrey & Marcia on both the
27th and 28th plus big dinner at our house on 27th for Mom, Jeffrey, Marcia,
Dan, Naomi, Aydan, Jake, Jess, Jace, Olivia, Irma, Butch and me. Worked out just perfectly in that Mom,
Jeffrey and Marcia arrived just in time to see a calf being born. We have cameras installed in the barn so able
to view on TV in kitchen. Have a total
of 11 calves as of now, 4 more to come.
Well
it looks like March came in like a lamb and also going out like a lamb. CANNOT complain about the
weather at all. Hope everyone has
a wonderful spring and a very Blessed Easter to everyone!
Steph &
Butch
Piercy,
Marcella 03
Apr 12
Box 6
Newell,
IA 50568
Hello to everyone. We can’t complain about
the weather. The robins are here and the rhubarb is leafing out. I mowed the
lawn last week and will try to get it done again by the last of this week—if
the weather permits.
I have my house cleaned, also the garage
and garden shed. I did some quilting the last two weeks. The quilts I bought at
a sale needed a lot of repair work.
Mary and I went with Don, Jean, Olivia and
Brian to Alanna’s Senior Class play on Saturday
night. Alanna was the musician. She played the piano. The play was very good.
I will have some of the family here for
the Easter weekend, so I will have to get some meals planned.
This is all I can think of to write—until
next time.
Marcella
Widlund,
Kathryn 1
Apr 12
456 Richart Box 31
Palmer,
IA 50571
Hello to all. Today is April 1st
already. Where did the other month go? Remember when we used to play April
fool’s jokes on someone—what fun that was.
Palm Sunday was today. We had palm
branches in the church and it made it a nice service.
Our
weather sure has been nice and things are growing very fast. The tulips are so
pretty, but it seems too early for them. Those with gardens will be planting
potatoes on Good Friday. Some gardeners already have some of their garden
planted.
I want to wish everyone a very blessed
Easter.
Kathryn
There's nothing like good proof reading. (And this is
nothing like good proof reading!)
|
Church
Ladies With computers. They're Back!
Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for church ladies with computers.
These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins
or were announced in church services: -------------------------- The
Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. |