Marilyn J. "Tiny" Dirks

Marilyn Joy Dirks, age 83 of Coleridge, Nebraska, died on Friday, January 4, 2019 at the Park View Haven Nursing Home in Coleridge. Funeral services will be on Tuesday, January 8, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Coleridge with the Rev. Russ Lambert officiating. Burial will be in Lawn Ridge Cemetery in Coleridge. Visitation will be on Monday, at church, from 5-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Tuesday one hour prior to services. To send online condolences, or to view the video tribute, please visit www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz Funeral Home of Coleridge. Pallbearers will be her grandchildren, Tony Dirks, Matthew Phillips, Jimmy Bush, Tyler Dirks, Brandon Webb, Candice Webb, Karen Hatfield, Katie Naslund, Lindsay Dirks and Dane McKitrick. Marilyn was born on July 18, 1935 at Coleridge to Glen Albert and Clara Lavonne (DeLozier) Milander. She grew up on a farm near Coleridge and graduated from Coleridge High School in 1953. Marilyn married Harold D. “Diz” Dirks on June 4, 1953 in Coleridge. They farmed north of Coleridge where Marilyn raised her family and helped on the farm. They moved to Cassville, Missouri in 1978 where they managed a ranch and she also managed the Town House Motel and Restaurant. Harold died on November 22, 1992 at the age of 59. Tiny then moved back to Coleridge in August of 1993 where she worked at Park View Haven, the Embers and the Cedar County Vet Clinic in Coleridge and Hartington. She had been a resident of the Embers for the past 3 years. Tiny was a member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Coleridge. She liked to bowl and attended numerous national bowling tournaments. She enjoyed working puzzles, caring for her flowers and bird watching. Tiny was a big Husker fan, loved all sports and attended many of her grandchildren’s events. Tiny is survived by her 3 children, Steve and Nancy Dirks, Peggy Bush, Russ and Paula Dirks all of Coleridge; 10 grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 3 sisters, Bev Specht of Coleridge, Nancy and Cliff Hinrichs of Emmetsburg, Iowa and Glenna Janssen of Punta Gorda, Florida. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Harold; brothers in infancy- Gary Dean and Glen Douglas Milander; granddaughter, Teri Lynn Dirks; brother, Don Milander and his wife Wilma; and a brother-in-law, Jim Specht.