ROBERT ELLIS DIRKES

Robert Ellis Dirkes of Hoffman Estates for 39 years Visitation for Robert Ellis Dirkes, 86, will be from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 26, at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine, and from 9:30 a.m. until the time of Mass at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at Holy Family Church, 2515 W. Palatine Road, Inverness. Interment will be in St. Michael the Archangel Cemetery. Born July 22, 1924, in Danville, Ill., he died Nov. 23, 2010, in Barrington. Robert was a World War II Navy veteran and a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He was a Boy Scout leader at St. Theresa as well as a member of the St. Theresa Knights of Columbus Council #4977. He also was a parishioner at St. Pius V Shrine, Lake Zurich. He was the beloved husband of Catherine, (nee Schultz), for 61 years; loving father of Carolyn (John) Nordstrom, Bill (Sue) Dirkes, Mary Jo Dirkes, Cindy Dirkes, James (Toni) Dirkes, Michael Dirkes, Kathryn Bass, Beth (Richard) Dirkes-Jacks and Robert (Denice) Dirkes; cherished grandfather of Adam and Megan Dirkes, Gregory Bryant, Linda Dirkes, Michael Joseph, Maria, Angela, Will and Anna Dirkes, MacKenzie and Cameron Bass, Elise, Haley, Julia and Paige Dirkes-Jacks, Celine and Nathan Dirkes, and Matthew and Aaron Pflum; and dear brother of Patricia Bradenburg and the late Paul Dirkes. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, 405 Lake Zurich Road, Barrington, IL 60010, would be appreciated. For information, 847-359-8020 or www.smithcorcoran.com.