Obituary of Anne A. Dierking

Anne Adair Dierking went home to God on March 29, 2018 at the age of 81, after a courageous six-month battle with pancreatic cancer.  Since her diagnosis she experienced wonderful, loving care from her team of Doctors in Iowa City, and spent her last days under the compassionate care of the Mercy Hospital Hospice unit.

Anne was born on January 31, 1937 to Carl and Jean Larson, the youngest of three daughters, and was raised in Aurora, Illinois. She graduated from Aurora High School in 1955 and went on to graduate from the University of Iowa with a degree in Education in 1958. After teaching for two years, she married Gene Dierking in June of 1959. In 1965 they moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where they remained for fifty years until relocating to Iowa City in 2010.

Anne lived a life that reflected her great faith, and held many active and leadership roles in service organizations throughout her life.  These included the Scottish Highlanders; Alpha Chi Omega sorority; First Presbyterian Church; PEO; Meals on Wheels and Alpha Chi alum club.  She also spent considerable time working with the Stephen Ministry and founded the prayer shawl ministry at Saint Andrew Presbyterian Church.

Anne loved nature, in particular her “happy place” in the woods and lakes of Ely, Minnesota – water fed her spirit, whether she was swimming in it, floating on it, paddling a canoe, or just sitting on the shore soaking in its beauty and peacefulness.

Anne was preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Jean Larson, and her sister Gayle Carr.  She is survived by her husband Gene; daughter Louise Dierking (Mark Meldahl), son Jim (Lynn) Dierking, and son Bill (Amy) Dierking; grandchildren Anna, Genevieve, Dylan, Megan and Ashleigh; and sister Eleanor (Craig) Cowles.

Celebration of Anne’s life will be held at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 140 Gathering Place Lane, Iowa City, Iowa on Saturday April 14, 7:00 p.m., with reception following at the church.  Memorials preferred to Mercy Hospital Hospice Care, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church Organ Fund, or Briarwood Health Care Center. To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit the funeral home website @ www.gayandciha.com.