Hometown: Olin, Iowa January 14, 1937 - November 23, 2014

Anna May Dircks, 77, of Olin, Iowa, formerly of Anamosa, died on Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, at St. Lukes in Cedar Rapids. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2014 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Olin. Visitation will be 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2014 at the Lahey Funeral Home, Olin. Burial will be at a later date in Olin Cemetery. Anna May Rathbun was born on January 14, 1937 to parents Lee and Mary Webster Rathbun and attended Monticello Schools. James A. Dirks, Sr. and Ann were married on Sept. 11, 1952. To this union were born six sons and five daughters. Jim passed away on May 10, 1994. Ann raised her family until she started working at Doerr Electric, where she was employed for many years until it closed in 1991. She then spent much of her time being the chief babysitter for her grandchildren. Ann married Kenneth A. Dircks on Oct. 9, 2004. They spent ten happy years together. She enjoyed traveling with family, gardening, going to the casino, word search puzzles, cookbooks, and listening to polka and old country music. Ann's potato salad and pumpkin bars were required at every occasion. She was happiest when surrounded by her large, rambunctious family. Ann was a wonderful wife, mother and grandma. She was loved and treasured by her family and will be dearly missed. Left behind to cherish her memory is her husband, Kenneth Dircks of Olin; sons, Al Lee Dirks of Forest City, James (Kathy) Dirks of Davenport, Byron "Barney" (Joan) Dirks of Anamosa, Frank (Theresa) Dirks of Onslow, and Greg (Jennifer) Dirks of Clinton, North Carolina; daughters, Marilyn "Kay" (Dennis) Countryman, Becky (Dave) DirksHaugsted, and Jerry Willcoxson, all of Anamosa, Patricia (Chris) Carey of Onslow and Melinda (Kevin) Carter of Cedar Rapids; step-daughter, Janet Lemmer of Cedar Falls; sisters, Rose (George) Pearson of Center Junction and Sally Neunaber of Monticello; sisters-in-law, Shirley Richmond and Ella Snider, both of Anamosa, more than 40 grandchildren, more than 20 great-grandchildren, a step-great-grandchild and her beloved Boston Terrier, Charlie. Ann was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jim Dirks, infant son, Richard Dirks, grandson, Christian Dirks, great-grandson, Austin Hess, and sisters, Altie Cooper and Jean Glen.