George Herman Dirks

George Herman DIRKS Memorial Services for George Dirks, 50, of Renton, will be held Saturday, June 21, at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Renton. George passed away June 12th at Valley General Hospital of congestive heart failure. George was born May 13, 1958 in Champaign, Ill., to Herman and Mary Dirks, and grew up in Bloomington, Ill., graduating from University High School in 1976. He adored all things cars - building engines, restoring muscle cars, car shows, talking about cars with his friends, model cars, and cruising. After two years at Purdue University, he joined his brother Gary in Phoenix, selling cars and enjoying the 80's. He was drawn to the Seattle area in 1989 by his engineering friends from Purdue and joined them at the Boeing Company. There he was encouraged to finish off his engineering degree at Cosgwell College, graduating in 1996. He worked on the 737 program for many years, and had many friends and admiring co-workers. He married his wife Kathy in 1994, and together they fought and survived the cancer in 1998 which took his right lung. His positive attitude about this fight was truly inspirational, and he made it look easy. His sense of humor drew people to him, and he could always be counted on for a dry one-liner that caused much laughter. George loved drag racing, 60's music, rock & roll trivia, full moons, sunsets, the mountains, bald eagles and roses. He especially loved his friends from Purdue, and the extended family that has resulted from that friendship. In addition to his wife Kathy, George leaves behind his parents, Herman and Mary Dirks, of Phoenix; brother Garrett (Teri) of Los Angeles; brother Gregory (Sarah) of San Antonio; sister Janet, of Bloomington, Ill.; Uncle and Aunt Wally & Louise Novak, of Atlanta; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. Remembrances may be made to the Swedish Medical Center Foundation (Cancer Institute) 747 Broadway Ave., Seattle, WA 98122.