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Arthur Dirkse Obituary
He was born to Herman & Genevieve Dirkse in Holland in 1943.
Art is survived by his wife, Jan (Wiersma); and children, Leah Dirkse, and Joe & Jibbie Dirkse. Brothers and sisters, Rich & Carol Dirkse, Lois Morera, Roger Dirkse, Phil & Jan Plasman, and Pennie Tomlinson; and many cousins; nieces; and nephews.
Art was a graduate of Holland High and received his Bachelors of Finance from Michigan State University. He was a Vietnam veteran and a pilot for Delta Airlines for 32 years. He enjoyed golf, motorcycles, political and philosophical discussions, completing his daily crossword puzzle, and ice cream.
Visitation will be Wednesday, August 17 from 5-7 p.m. at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home, 315 E. 16th Street, Holland. Memorial services will be held Thursday, August 18 at 11 a.m. at Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Rest Haven of Holland or the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa, Florida. www.langelandsterenberg.com.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Arthur Dirkse
Sponsored by Langeland-Sterenberg Funeral Home.
Colin Scheidt
August 10, 2021
Dear Jan and family,
I knew Art from flying several trips with him in Chicago in the early 80's. He was a great listener and always had thoughtful insights into topics. He was a true professional in the airplane and a wonderful person to hang with on layovers. I know you miss him. God bless you all.
Eva Thompson
February 21, 2017
I remember he was kind, funny, and patient. He was a very special cousin, and I am sorry to learn about his passing, which I saw on the computer not long ago. I had not seen him for years, but I do remember him fondly. I would not mind hearing from any family members, or by email.
August 30, 2016
Jan, and family,
So sorry to hear about the passing of Art. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this most difficult time.
Mark, Fran, Mark Jr., Nick and Natalie Sherman
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Steve Maatman
August 29, 2016
Jan, Roger, Rich & Loie,
Lynn and I are so sorry to hear the news of Art's passing. Wishing The Lord's blessings and peace in this time of loss.
Art, thank you for all the times you walked me home from your house to mine after I visiting Roger, when I was 6 years old because I was afraid of walking home in the dark by myself.
You will be missed.
Richard VanHeemst
August 21, 2016
A man I always looked up to and had the utmost respect for....we all will miss him
Colin Scheidt
August 20, 2016
Dear Jan, family and friends,
I had the honor of flying with Art at O'Hare when I was a new flight engineer on the 727 for Delta. I later flew with him as a first officer. He was always a professional, always a gentleman, and I always enjoyed spending time with him. He was a great promoter of his beloved Traverse City.
May God bless his family during this time of loss.
The Murray Family
August 20, 2016
Jan, Joe & Leah- Thinking of you and wishing you peace this week as you remember Art during services. He was a great family man and a good friend. He will be missed.
August 19, 2016
Jan,
We will greatly miss Art and will always remember the fun times we had. It was great to have known him. Wishing you, Leah, and Joe peace and love.
JoAnn and Rob Godsey
Michael Boyd
August 18, 2016
Rest in peace Art former fellow LCA. Michael Boyd Sarasota Florida
August 17, 2016
Jan, God's grace and peace to you and the family as you rejoice in the memories. It was always great talking with you and Art about family and Home Schooling on our journeys between PBI and GRR. Art was a great man and he made me better for knowing him. God Bless you as you mourn your loss.
Scott Branderhorst
Delta STM Retired GRR/PIT
Evangelist Church Army USA
John Burgdorfer
August 17, 2016
Dear members of the Dirkse family
I was so saddened to lean of Art's passing. He was a very special person and it is not often that God brings into our lives someone who cares more about others than himself. While 50 plus years have passed I will always remember Art, who when I was a awkward Freshman at MSU, sought me out and brought me into the Lambda Chi brotherhood. He continued to provide me with friendship and guidance thoughout the year and was gracious enough to include me in the many Macatawa Lake activities with his friends and family the year of his graduation. I have known very few people who possessed the human qualities that Art did and I am hopeful that your many memories of Art as husband, father, brother, Grandfather, Uncle and friend will sustain you in these difficult times.
Vic Gregory
August 17, 2016
Dear Jan, Leah, Joe, Lois and all of the Dirkse family, Art was a "forever friend " We may have 3 or 4 in our lifetime if your are lucky. Art was one of mine. I'll never forget his closing remarks at the end of his MSU Gamma Omicron High Alpha tenure in 1965. " It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. It was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity....* The brothers broke into raucous laughter. Coming back from springbreak we stopped for a burger. I must have given him too much grief about all of the ketchup he was using because he looked at me without a smile and said "suck a moose" I'll never forget those words either. In closing I'd like to use some of the lyrics from The Beach Boys song Hotel California; " you can check out any time you like but you can never leave" Goodbye Art my forever friend, *
Chuck Ragains
August 16, 2016
To the family of Art Dirkse. I was very sad to hear of Art's passing. It was my privelege to have Art as a classmate at Holland High School, a fraternity brother at Lamda Chi Alpha at MSU,and a fellow traveler to Mexico. He was a great guy and a good friend. Chuck Ragains friend Bloomfield Hills,Mi.
peter graham
August 16, 2016
Dear Dirkse family, our prayers and thoughts are with you at this sad time. Jan, you know how much we appreciated and respected Art as a member of the TBS family. WE were deeply saddened to hear of your loss.
Pete and Jody Graham
Clinton Johnson
August 15, 2016
Please accept my condolences. I really liked Art. We were based together in Chicago. He always had a funny
story. I remember that he flew to work from Holland to O,Hare (very cool). He was a true Michigander.
Clint Johnson, Capt Delta Airlines Milton, GA
Carrie Gale
August 15, 2016
Dear Jan, Leah, Joe and Jibbie
We are so sorry to hear of Art's passing. May all your wonderful memories of a great husband and dad ease your grief. Please know you are in our thoughts and prayers. Love Carrie and Mitch Gale
Nancy McAllister
August 14, 2016
Blessings to you Jan, Jibbie, Leah, and Joe. Thinking of Art and sending prayers your way.
Karen Wellman
August 14, 2016
We are so deeply saddened to hear if your loss.
Sandy Buller
August 14, 2016
My deepest sympathy to the Dirkse family. May memories of healthy happy years help to heal the pain you are feeling. He was courageous in his fight and I'm so happy he had the big motorcycle trip with Rich and others. Cherish the memories and know he is pain free. Sandy Buller
Nancy Krar
August 14, 2016
Deepest condolences to you and family. Glad to have known such a wonderful guy...❤❤❤
Jeanne Goosmann
August 14, 2016
Our love and thoughts are with you all. Jeanne, Mark, Cody and Kylie Goosmann
Dick Gardner
August 14, 2016
It was my pleasure to have known and flown with Art. The obituary doesn't mention the Chicago Delta base but that is where Art started out, flying as a second officer and then onto first officer . He was not married at that time so I never got to know his family. Art was a delight to work with being a gentleman from start to finish with an enjoyable sense of humor. My only regret is that I didn't keep in contact with him after I retired.
Capt Art Williams
August 14, 2016
As the "other Art" in Delta Class 72D we always had a great friendship as we passed through our career in flying. I was sorry to hear of your passing and send my thoughts and prayers. On day 1 of training our shirts of white and black gave us our nicknames to each other. That will always remind me of you. RIP
Alan Vande Vusse
August 14, 2016
Went to Harrington School with Art and Rich (although I was a year younger). Prayers for the whole family and RIP Vietnam Brother Art.
Sandi Weinberg
August 14, 2016
Much love and healing to Jan, Leah, and Joe. The Weinbergs (Sandi, Roy, Cory, and Victoria)
Bob Slette
August 14, 2016
It saddens me to learn of Art's passing. I met Art when he first arrived at our Delta pilot base in Chicago. We shared many hours together in the cockpit and many enjoyable conversations when he lived in Naperville. It was always a pleasure to be with Art, as he was always a true professional, gentleman, and friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you Jan, and the Dirkse family.
Morgan Smith
August 14, 2016
Flew my first ride in country Vietnam in the 02-A with Art in May 1969 on a Sleepytime Mission. Great Guy, I am sorry to hear about your losing him. Morgan Smith, Twisp, Wa. [email protected]
William Smith
August 14, 2016
When Judy and I got married Art gave us a cutting board with a traditional Holland windmill wood burned on it.over the years we used it it looked little worn. This summer Judy decided to do a restoration project on the board. She finished the project and we hung the board in the kitchen of our summer home. It will have a special meaning for us from now on. It appears that Art was the same great guy we knew at MSU. Very sorry to hear he's gone.
John Morgan
August 14, 2016
Rest in eternal peace, LCA Brother Art. You have always been one of the best. Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Dirkse family.
John and Karley Morgan, Grand Rapids, MI
Ron Dirkse
August 13, 2016
Ron and Miki Dirkse
August 12, 2016
A sad day. Such a great person and so many good memories. R.I.P., Art. The world lost a good man
Pamela Koch
August 12, 2016
Our lives were enriched and made better through our long friendship with Art. We will cherish every memory and every fascinating conversation we've shared. RIP dear Arthur, God has another wonderful and wise angel by his side now. We love you, Pam And Dale
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