Willem Dirk Dirksen

Willem Dirk Dirksen, age 90, passed away on August 23, 2025, in Lynden, Washington. A devoted servant of Christ and beloved patriarch, Willem's life was marked by unwavering faith, quiet humility, steady kindness, commitment to the ministry, and deep love for his family.
Born on June 21, 1935, in Leeuwarden, the Netherlands, Willem lived through World War 2 and spent his early years in a country rebuilding from war. While in high school, he met his lovely bride, Gerarda Algra, who moved back from Indonesia where her parents served as teaching missionaries. After completing high school, he served in the Dutch Army before pursuing higher education. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Free Reformed University in Amsterdam in 1958. In 1961, after 7 years of dating, he and Gerda were married and immigrated to the US, where they settled in Ogden, UT. Sensing a call to ministry and missions, he enrolled at Calvin Theological Seminary. There he completed his Bachelor of Divinity in 1969, including an internship at Detroit Innercity Christian Reformed Church in 1967, an experience that shaped his passion for urban and cross-cultural ministry.
Ordained in July 1969 by the Christian Reformed Church, Willem began his mission work in Brazil with Christian Reformed World Missions. From 1969 to 1980, he trained lay ministers across various cities and later focused on youth ministry and Bible study programs for teens and young adults. Rev. Dirksen was dearly loved, full of Biblical wisdom and genuine interest of the lives of people. He and Gerda worked as a team, he leaned on her, and she on him. He valued Gerda and loved her dearly, once saying "she was outgoing, and I was not, so I loved her."
Returning to North America in 1980, Willem continued his pastoral calling at Chula Vista CRC in California (1980–1987), First CRC of Thunder Bay, Ontario (1987–1993), and Stratford CRC in Ontario (1993–2000). Following retirement, he and Gerda moved to Lynden, WA. He was faithful and loving through her battle with cancer until she was called home to her Lord and Savior in 2001. He served as interim pastor for Sumas CRC and led classes on occasion within the CRC, URC, OCRC, and Protestant Reformed Congregations. He had a deep love for teaching catechism and adult education, always striving to ground others firmly in Scripture. In 2006, he married Alice Spoelstra. They spent many days traveling the world and he loved her dearly until her passing in 2022.
Willem dedicated his life to proclaiming the gospel. As a herald of the faith and missionary of Christ's message, he lived with Christ at the center of all he did. His ministry was not only expressed through preaching but also through the way he lived-grateful, contented, and always placing his Lord first and his family second. He never allowed work or worldly concerns to overshadow his commitment to those he loved.
Beyond ministry and family life, Willem found joy in simple pleasures: listening to classical music that stirred the soul; taking long walks or scenic drives; and immersing himself in the beauty of nature. These moments reflected a man who found peace not only in Scripture but also in creation.
He was preceded in death by his parents Wessel and Douwt Dirksen; his beloved wives Gerarda and Alice; and by his siblings Hendrik, Janke, Christiaan, and Wessel. Though touched by loss throughout his life, Willem remained steadfast in hope and grace.
He is survived by his siblings Grietje, Gustaaf, and Anke; he is lovingly remembered by his children Wessel (Kathy) Dirksen, Sandy (Bill) VanZonneveld, Kirsten (Ian) McClure, and Mark (Dawn) Dirksen; as well as by his grandchildren Kaeli (Dan) DeVries, Danielle (Travis) Alsky, Tim (Kyra) McClure, Brielle (Micah) Christensen, Christian (Hailey) Dirksen, Braelyn McClure, Dana (James) Stafford, Sophia (Will) Southard, Joelle (David) Carnes, Emily (Joshua) Vandeburgt, and Rebekah (Chuck) Pinkstaff. His legacy continues through great-grandchildren Teyla, Dawson, Paxton, Savannah, Beckham, Brooks, Berklie, Lydia, and Isaiah.
Willem leaves behind a legacy of faithfulness-a life lived gratefully in service to God and others, treating every person as someone worth believing in, because he knew he was a sinner chosen and redeemed by the Lord. May his memory and the hope of the resurrection bring comfort to all who knew him.
A Graveside Memorial at Monumenta Cemetery will be held on September 9, 2025, at 2:30pm with a Funeral Service following at 3:30pm at Second Christian Reformed Church in Lynden.
Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Gillies Funeral Home and Cremation Services.