- Date Of Birth: February 2, 1932
- Date Of Death: June 20, 2021
- State: Iowa
Donald Albert Dirksen (D.A.D. -He always said he was born to be a Dad, 89 years old, of Urbandale, Iowa, who went home to be with God Our Father in Heaven Sunday, June 20th, 2021 while in the care of the VA Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa. He was surrounded by his wife and loving family.
Donald was born February 2nd, 1932 in Hampton, IA on what he always joked was his favorite holiday (albeit, he shared it with a groundhog). He was the son of Ole and Evelyn (Pekarek) Dirksen. When he was a child they moved to Spencer, Iowa. Upon graduation from Spencer High School, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served from 1952 to 1956 as a Machinist Mate 3 aboard the destroyer U.S.S Erben. Including wartime service during the Korean War. His ship was a Squadron Leader and official Naval escort on many missions for the Royal Navy and was involved in several events off the coast of the Philippines, Japan, and Korea in the Pacific Theatre. Donald received special recognition for saving the life of a downed enemy pilot that he discovered while on night watch on deck and calling for rescue operations. He returned home to Spencer, Iowa as a Naval Reservist until his honorable discharge in 1958.
He worked with his father in his manufacturing business. He then married the love of his life, Ella Mae (Elizabeth Morisch), they were blessed to celebrate 62 years of marriage as of April 18th of this year. In 1967 moved their family from Spencer to Des Moines. He worked for Engman Enterprises for eight years as a supervisor on the night shift before he began work at the Des Moines Register, where he worked as a Journeyman Machinist for 20 years. He was proud of his work repairing the presses and fabricating necessary parts, knowing he literally kept the press moving until his retirement on January 31st, 1997. In retirement, Donald spent time with his greatest joy, his family. He also enjoyed traveling, loving the Lord, and serving his church as a Worship Leader, as well as volunteering for the Douglas Avenue and West Des Moines Senior Centers. He and Ella Mae escorted many Senior bus trips for the Polk County Recreation Committee. They also spent several years enjoying the winter months in Texas.
Donald enjoyed spending countless hours with his children and grandchildren sharing the things he loved, especially the outdoors. He was thrilled when they moved to their current home so he could have the garage of his dreams, and Ella Mae could have the kitchen of hers. He also loved fishing, going on picnics, tinkering for hours in his garage, and fixing stuff. If something needed fixing he could fix it, which was a character trait his wife and girls loved. He also enjoyed any John Wayne film, looking at antiques, watching shows on National Geographic, and the History Channel as well as shopping at flea markets looking for that one big find.
Donald is survived by his wife Ella, two daughters, Lynette and her husband David Boyer of Ankeny, Debra and her husband Richard West of Des Moines, three grandchildren Chris (Amy) Bailey, Jeff (Sarah) Boyer, Julie (Tanner) Francisco and six great-grandchildren, Allister Bailey, Edgar Bailey, Hayden Boyer, Lincoln Boyer, Parker Francisco and Aurora Francisco, as well as close family and friends
He was preceded in death by his parents Ole and Evelyn Dirksen, two sisters, Joanne Schroeder and Marjorie Zahrt, and a brother in infancy.
