Col. (Ret.) Larry "Dirk" Dierksen

Col. (Ret.) Larry “Dirk” Dierksen, 80, passed away peacefully at home on Monday, December 2, 2019.

Dirk was born June 6, 1939, in Hutchinson, Kansas, the son of Leo and Gwen (Gass) Dierksen.  He married Sharon “Sammie” (Samuelson) Dierksen on November 4, 1961, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and together they shared more than 51 years of marriage.

Dirk proudly served our country from June 1960 – July 1990.  He enlisted and began his career as an Airman 1^st class and retired as a Colonel.  He enjoyed many hobbies including golfing, hunting, fishing, mantle duck carving, photography and was a long time naturalist.

He was a member of Lake of Egypt Christian Church; Franklin County Country Club Men’s Golf Association; Marion Elks Club; and Zeigler Eagle Club.  Dirk also served in many different capacities as a member of the Little Egypt Chapter of Military Officers Association of America.

Dirk is survived by his son Logan Dierksen and wife Ann of Mascoutah, Illinois; daughter Laurie Orr and husband Gene of Winchester, Virginia; six grandchildren, Karen Riffe of Winchester, Virginia; Kelsey (Dierksen) Rubio and husband Francisco of St. Louis, Missouri; Kurtis Orr of Winchester, Virginia; Samantha Orr of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Katryn Dierksen of St. Louis, Missouri; and Logan Aaron Dierksen of Mascoutah, Illinois; three great grandsons, Leon, Caspian, and Rafael Rubio; brother Dennis Dierksen and wife Karen of Port St. Lucie, Florida; brother-in-law Dennis Samuelson and wife Annette of Prescott Valley, Arizona; and several nieces and a nephew.

He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents.

Memorial services will be Saturday, December 14, 2019, at 2 pm at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home in Marion with Brother Leroy Waggoner officiating.  Military rites will be presented by members of the VFW Post #1301, American Legion Post #147 and the Air Force flag detail unit. Visitation will be Saturday from 12 pm until the time of service at the funeral home.

For those who prefer, memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas  66675-8516.  Envelopes will be available and accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home or online at https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/