Alice "Allie" Dirks age 84 passed away at her home, unexpectedly and peacefully in her sleep on Saturday, Dec 20, 2008, after a day of preparing for Christmas Celebrations with family and friends.\r\nAllie was born Nov 9, 1924, in Wisconsin Dells where she grew up, a daughter of Cleve and Florence (Wagner) Sherrod. She received her Teaching Degree from the Wisconsin State University of Oshkosh, graduating with High Honors.\r\nAllie married Richard "Dick" Dirks on Aug. 2, 1947, and they moved to Gillett in 1952 where both were employed by the Gillett School District as educators for many years. Upon their retirement, they became snow birds and traveled throughout the southwest finally settling in St. David, AZ, a small town southwest of Tucson. After Dick's death in 1995, she moved back to Wisconsin to be near her family and friends, finally setting roots in Altoona where many of the amenities she desired were close at hand. Allie was always devoted to her family, loved to read and especially loved music. She was never without a melody whether it was a whistle, a song, or playing her fiddle much to the content of her constant companion Peek-a-boo the cat. A more caring and considerate person has never lived.\r\nAlice is survived by her two sons, David (Jennie) of Gillett,WI and Tom (Paula) of Neenah, WI; her daughter, Maribeth (Charles) Ballard of Menomonie, WI; six grandchildren, Cari (Dewayne) Van Gheem, Kelly Dirks, Andrea Dirks, Dan (Sarah) Reinert, Denise Dirks, Benjamin Ballard and Dirk Ballard; a great grandson, Sawyer Fredrick; two sisters, Betty Christian of Mesa, AZ and Lorine Palijas of Albuquerque, NM; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Robert and Leatrice Dirks of Chippewa Falls, Don and Lorraine Dirks of Horseshoe Bay, TX, and Charlotte and Ron Griffin of Edgerton, MN; many nieces and nephews; and dear friends, June Harrison, Bill Culbert, Judy Ballard, Jane Close, and Ken and Linda Bolgren; as well as many other good friends at Eastridge Estates. \r\nShe was also preceded in death by her parents, Cleve and Florence; her mother-in-law and father-in-law, Rev. Evert and Emma Dirks; and two brothers-in-law, Frank Palijas and Bill Christian.\r\nA memorial celebration of her life will at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, December 29, 2008, at Eastridge Estates apartment complex at 3504 Hoover Ave., Altoona with Rev. Cathy L. Hamblin officiating. Visitation will be from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Monday at Eastridge Estates. Burial will be in Wanderer's Rest in Gillett, WI. \r\nFamily requests memorials be directed to Wisconsin Public Radio, 821 University Ave., Madison, WI 53706. \r\n

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