Rosemary (Rosie) Dirksen, 72, died April 23, 2010 in Corvallis, surrounded by her loving family after a courageous battle with cancer.
She was born Oct. 6, 1937 in St. Louis, Mo., to Clark and Alberta (Summers) Simpson. She spent her early school years there and moved to California with her family in 1952.
She worked as a secretary for several years with Aetna Insurance company and enjoyed her work as a switchboard operator at Gary Steel Co.
She met the love of her life, L.J. (Dirk) Dirksen, and they later married in Las Vegas, on Sept. 3, 1964. They started their family in southern California and later moved to Sweet Home in 1978.
Mrs. Dirksen was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend with a magnetic personality that everyone loved. Her charm, kindness and loving spirit will be deeply missed by all who knew her.
She was full of life and laughter; some of her hobbies were painting, cooking, crosswords and computer games, but most of all she enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren whom she loved immensely.
Mrs. Dirksen is survived by her husband, Dirk; daughters Daniele and partner Sharon of Portland, Lisa Cooper and son-in-law Bob, Lydia Paterson and son-in-law Seth, and Lynn Dirksen, all of Vancouver, Wash.; three grandchildren; siblings, Donald, Carol, Barbara, Bob and Ron; and all of her nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her mother and father.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, April 30, at the Sweet Home Evangelical Church. A Celebration of Life will follow at the Sweet Home VFW. Final burial will be at Lewis Cemetery.
Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.