Isaac Benjamin Dirks was born on the homestead in Marion, South Dakota in 1885. Isaac would have been a young man of 14 when they left Marion, South Dakota in 1899. The family immigrated north with a large group of pioneers looking at the new frontier and the END OF THE STEEL in Rosthern, Saskatchewan Canada, which was still known as the North West Territories, at that time. Later in 1905 Saskatchewan became the latest province to join confederation in Canada. Isaac grew up in Waldheim, Saskatchewan where he met Annie Agnes Schultz and were married OCTOBER 18, 1907 at Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Isaac received his education at the Tabor College in Kansas around 1914-15. Isaac and Annie left with their 3 children and headed to China on Missionary work in March of 1916, for service under the China Mennonite Mission Society, along with the Henry Epp family from Waldheim. My father Eddie learned to walk on the sailing ship heading to their port in China.
After a few years in China, Annie became ill and they returned to Waldheim, Saskatchewan to deal with her illness. Annie never totally recovered from her illness and passed away at the young age of 64. Isaac took up a homestead and here they raised their family. Times were very difficult during the depression and Isaac and Annie lost two of their daughters Helen Sophie and Mathalida to illnesses.
Later in the 1940's Isaac and Annie decided to move to Abbotsford, British Columbia and a much warmer climate to be near their children and grandchildren. This was the last move for Isaac and Annie Dirks and the end of their long journey from Marion, South Dakota to Waldheim, Sask, to China, back to Waldheim, Saskatchewan and eventually to Abbotsford British Columbia. In the Waldheim district Isaac was a sought after hands on "masseur" and "bone-setter".
It was told at one of the Dirks Reunions in 1998 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan by Helen Jeschke Dirks, that Issac was known in the community to have "healing hands". As the story goes, a little girl in the Waldheim District was unable to walk and the doctors had given up, and said this girl would never walk. Isaac began "hands on" working with the little girl for some time and he finally gave this little girl the gift of walking, thru the hands of the Lord. Thus he became known in the community as the "man with the healing hands". Isaac was a God fearing man, which may have contributed to the healing process. After Annie passed away Isaac married Margaret Reimer in 1953 in Abbotsford, British Columbia where they lived the rest of their lives.
After a few years in China, Annie became ill and they returned to Waldheim, Saskatchewan to deal with her illness. Annie never totally recovered from her illness and passed away at the young age of 64. Isaac took up a homestead and here they raised their family. Times were very difficult during the depression and Isaac and Annie lost two of their daughters Helen Sophie and Mathalida to illnesses.
Later in the 1940's Isaac and Annie decided to move to Abbotsford, British Columbia and a much warmer climate to be near their children and grandchildren. This was the last move for Isaac and Annie Dirks and the end of their long journey from Marion, South Dakota to Waldheim, Sask, to China, back to Waldheim, Saskatchewan and eventually to Abbotsford British Columbia. In the Waldheim district Isaac was a sought after hands on "masseur" and "bone-setter".
It was told at one of the Dirks Reunions in 1998 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan by Helen Jeschke Dirks, that Issac was known in the community to have "healing hands". As the story goes, a little girl in the Waldheim District was unable to walk and the doctors had given up, and said this girl would never walk. Isaac began "hands on" working with the little girl for some time and he finally gave this little girl the gift of walking, thru the hands of the Lord. Thus he became known in the community as the "man with the healing hands". Isaac was a God fearing man, which may have contributed to the healing process. After Annie passed away Isaac married Margaret Reimer in 1953 in Abbotsford, British Columbia where they lived the rest of their lives.
Isaac Benjamin Dirks was born on the homestead in Marion, South Dakota in 1885. Isaac would have been a young man of 14 when they left Marion, South Dakota in 1899. The family immigrated north with a large group of pioneers looking at the new frontier and the END OF THE STEEL in Rosthern, Saskatchewan Canada, which was still known as the North West Territories, at that time. Later in 1905 Saskatchewan became the latest province to join confederation in Canada. Isaac grew up in Waldheim, Saskatchewan where he met Annie Agnes Schultz and were married OCTOBER 18, 1907 at Waldheim, Saskatchewan. Isaac received his education at the Tabor College in Kansas around 1914-15. Isaac and Annie left with their 3 children and headed to China on Missionary work in March of 1916, for service under the China Mennonite Mission Society, along with the Henry Epp family from Waldheim. My father Eddie learned to walk on the sailing ship heading to their port in China.
After a few years in China, Annie became ill and they returned to Waldheim, Saskatchewan to deal with her illness. Annie never totally recovered from her illness and passed away at the young age of 64. Isaac took up a homestead and here they raised their family. Times were very difficult during the depression and Isaac and Annie lost two of their daughters Helen Sophie and Mathalida to illnesses.
Later in the 1940's Isaac and Annie decided to move to Abbotsford, British Columbia and a much warmer climate to be near their children and grandchildren. This was the last move for Isaac and Annie Dirks and the end of their long journey from Marion, South Dakota to Waldheim, Sask, to China, back to Waldheim, Saskatchewan and eventually to Abbotsford British Columbia. In the Waldheim district Isaac was a sought after hands on "masseur" and "bone-setter".
It was told at one of the Dirks Reunions in 1998 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan by Helen Jeschke Dirks, that Issac was known in the community to have "healing hands". As the story goes, a little girl in the Waldheim District was unable to walk and the doctors had given up, and said this girl would never walk. Isaac began "hands on" working with the little girl for some time and he finally gave this little girl the gift of walking, thru the hands of the Lord. Thus he became known in the community as the "man with the healing hands". Isaac was a God fearing man, which may have contributed to the healing process. After Annie passed away Isaac married Margaret Reimer in 1953 in Abbotsford, British Columbia where they lived the rest of their lives.
After a few years in China, Annie became ill and they returned to Waldheim, Saskatchewan to deal with her illness. Annie never totally recovered from her illness and passed away at the young age of 64. Isaac took up a homestead and here they raised their family. Times were very difficult during the depression and Isaac and Annie lost two of their daughters Helen Sophie and Mathalida to illnesses.
Later in the 1940's Isaac and Annie decided to move to Abbotsford, British Columbia and a much warmer climate to be near their children and grandchildren. This was the last move for Isaac and Annie Dirks and the end of their long journey from Marion, South Dakota to Waldheim, Sask, to China, back to Waldheim, Saskatchewan and eventually to Abbotsford British Columbia. In the Waldheim district Isaac was a sought after hands on "masseur" and "bone-setter".
It was told at one of the Dirks Reunions in 1998 in Waldheim, Saskatchewan by Helen Jeschke Dirks, that Issac was known in the community to have "healing hands". As the story goes, a little girl in the Waldheim District was unable to walk and the doctors had given up, and said this girl would never walk. Isaac began "hands on" working with the little girl for some time and he finally gave this little girl the gift of walking, thru the hands of the Lord. Thus he became known in the community as the "man with the healing hands". Isaac was a God fearing man, which may have contributed to the healing process. After Annie passed away Isaac married Margaret Reimer in 1953 in Abbotsford, British Columbia where they lived the rest of their lives.
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