MBMS International Remembers Missionary Print E-mail
Sylvester Dirks passed away on January 7, 2007. He was born in Waldheim, Saskatchewan in 1929 to Jacob B. and Susanna (Luetke) Dirks. In 1929 at the age of 13 he had a life transforming encounter with Jesus Christ. For the rest of his life, Sylvester devoted his life to being a witness to the power of Jesus Christ.


In 1941, he married Matilda Epp and together they pursued a calling to missions. From 1944- 1967 they served in Peru, South America. When they returned to Canada with their eight children in 1967, Sylvester served as pastor in Dalmeny, Saskatchewan, Lehigh, Kansas and Nutana MB Church, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. In 1977 Sylvester and Matty served a two year term in Colombia and in 1980 moved to Brooks, Alberta as pastor couple. They retired in Abbotsford, B.C. in 1984 where they attended Bakerview MB Church.

In 1997 his beloved Matty died unexpectedly of heart failure. In 1998 Sylvester married Nelly Klassen and in 2002 she succumbed to cancer.

Sylvester is mourned by 2 sons and 5 daughters; 20 grandchildren; 3 great-grand-children; 2 brothers and 2 sisters. He was ninety years old.