LARNED-Wilbur Dean Dirks, 84, passed away November 22 at his home in Larned. 

He was born March 7, 1928 in Pawnee County, the son of John Jacob Dirks and Anna Marie George. He was a resident of both Larned and Wichita. 

He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Larned and attended Evangel Assembly of God, Wichita. 

Wilbur began farming at a young age and loved to work the ground. He saw it as a miracle to plant seeds in the soil and watch it grow, especially wheat growing in straight lines in the fields. Farming was his love and he was proud of his heritage of a farming family. It was only natural then that Wilbur would make farming his lifelong occupation until he retired in 2002. In addition to farming, Wilbur worked as a mechanic at the Ford dealer in Larned. This is where he acquired his knowledge and skill for cars, trucks and machinery. 

Wilbur had many passions in his life, including his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When asked by any of them for help in any way, he always would, as they were his life. 

Wilbur loved dancing, traveling, and Big Band music. His parents loved to dance – a love he acknowledged and inherited from them at a young age and remained strong his entire life. He remembered as a young boy traveling to town on Saturday night to attend dances with his parents. As an adult, Wilbur continued to travel to dances in Texas, Nebraska, and other various locations to hear Big Band music performances and dance. He loved to two-step, waltz, and ballroom dance.

Wilbur’s travel not only took him to social dancing events but also across the world. He went on many farm trips, where he learned about other farming practices and culture in those countries. 

Late in life Wilbur also spent a great amount of time reading and studying the Bible. He was a believer of God, Jesus, and Heaven. His strong faith is a comfort to all during this hard time of loss and grief, as he was prepared to meet his Maker.

He is survived by his two daughters, Diane Morgan, Larned; Dawn Dirks-Ham and husband Bob, Lawrence; one son, Gary Dirks, Sonora, California; four grandchildren, Autumn (Dirks) Fox and husband Bryan, Soulsbyville, California; Amy (Morgan) Vogel and husband Jason, Wichita; Chelsea and Seth Dirks-Ham, Lawrence; three great-grandchildren, Lillian, Vivian and Colton Fox, Soulsbyville, California; a new great-grandchild to arrive in February; and long-time friend Anita Smith, Hutchinson.

He was preceded in death by; two brothers, Otto and Herman. 

Funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at the Beckwith Mortuary Chapel with Rev. Vance A. Cauthon presiding. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Sunday and 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday at the Mortuary. Burial will be in the Larned Cemetery. 

Memorials may be given to the Welcome Inn Senior Center, in care of the Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.