DIRK, Jerome “Jerry” Michael

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August 17, 1937 – Prelate, Saskatchewan

August 17, 2020 – Calgary, Alberta

Jerome Dirk of Calgary, AB, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home with his family on Monday, August 17, 2020 at the age of 83 years.

Jerry was born to John and Erma Dirk in Prelate, Saskatchewan, the youngest of eight children. The family moved between Saskatchewan, Alberta and BC until they settled in Medicine Hat where Jerry graduated from high school. He followed this with technical school, eventually becoming a Master Electrician and Registered Electrical Engineering Technologist.

Upon moving to Calgary, Jerry was lucky to meet the girl in the apartment next door, and he married Dianne Story in 1965. Jerry was particularly proud of the three years he and Dianne spent in St. Kitts in the Caribbean where he taught at a technical college for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Now with three children, Jerry and Dianne settled their family in Lethbridge, AB and started their own electrical and mechanical contracting company. Many happy times were had camping, skiing and working around the yard. Jerry was never short of projects to work on and could often be found in his garage repairing something that wasn’t ready to be thrown out. He finally retired from UMA Engineering.

Jerry valued helping others and volunteered his time and skills to the Lethbridge Catholic Charities Clothes Bank, L’Arche and the Condo Association Board of Directors. He enjoyed a challenging game of bridge, square dancing, and was a volunteer handyman for anyone with something that needed fixing. Jerry enjoyed doing Sudoku, reading novels, collecting coins and never turned down a Crown Royal with a splash of water. He loved spending his retirement driving his fifth-wheel camping trailer, with his wife Dianne, exploring North America continent-wide.

Jerry is survived by his daughters, Michele (Carson) Harding of Calgary, Colleen (Andrew) Marples of Denver, Colorado; and son Brian (Joyce) Dirk of Wellington, Utah; his nine grandchildren will miss him dearly, Rachel, Peter and Jennifer of Calgary, AB, Courtney of San Antonio, Texas, David, Lucas and Sydney of Denver, Colorado, and Michael and Nathan of Wellington, Utah.

Jerry was predeceased by his wife Dianne Dirk, his parents, Armelia (Erma) Volk and John George Dirk, and six siblings.

Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name Catholic Church (2223 – 34 Street SW, Calgary, AB) on Tuesday, August 25, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. Graveside Service will take place in Lethbridge at a future date. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed on Jerry’s obituary at www.McInnisandHolloway.com.

In living memory of Jerry Dirk, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.