Stanley Edward Dierks' Obituary
Stanley Edward Dierks, 84, of Clinton, Iowa, passed away Friday, August 2, 2024 at Jackson County Regional Health Center, Maquoketa. Services for Stanley will be held at 10:30AM Thursday, August 8, 2024 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig with a luncheon following at First Baptist Church in Clinton. Visitation will be held from 4:00PM to 7:00PM Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at the Clinton Chapel Snell-Zornig and from 9:30AM to the service hour Thursday. Burial will take place at later date at Smith Cemetery. Online condolences may be expressed at snellzornig.com.
Stanley was born April 23, 1940 in Clinton, Iowa, the son of Stanley and Dorothy (Hansen) Dierks. Stanley was a graduate of Clinton High School and was a graduate of Optician School.
Stanley married Kay Meier Anderson February 15, 1973 in Kansas City, MO.
Stanley was the manager for Bausch and Lomb in Clinton prior to opening Independent Optical Dispensary in 1974. He and Kay owned and operated the business until retiring in 2010. Even after retirement, Stanley was happy to make free adjustments and small repairs for his customers who would drive out to his farm to reminisce. He also started and owned Multiform Wood Burning tools as well as many other small entrepreneurial ventures.
Upon graduation from high school, Stanley was awarded a scholarship to art school. However, because he was a type 1 diabetic and at that time jobs for people like him were difficult to find, when offered an apprenticeship and then entry into Optician School by Bausch and Lomb, he jumped at the opportunity. However, artistic endeavors remained a life-long passion for Stanley. He was an excellent painter, wood carver and all-around artist. He could make something beautiful out of anything that might be just laying around. He also taught many painting and carving classes.
Stanley was also an avid hunter and outdoorsman and he shared those interests and taught those talents to many others throughout his lifetime. He was a member and director of the Izaak Walton League and a hunter safety course instructor. Additionally, Stanley received two awards for his longevity as a type 1 diabetic having lived with the disease for 69 years.
Survivors include his wife, Kay of Clinton; children: Jeff (Laurie) Anderson of Clinton; Darcy (Ted) Good of Severn, MD; Cindy (Stan) Teal of Clinton; Scott (Chandra) Dierks of Caty, TX and Tricia (Dave) Snowden of Maquoketa; 10 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren and brothers, Herman (Sharon) Dierks and Bob Dierks both of Clinton and several nieces and nephews.
Stanley was preceded in death by his parents and sisters, Phyllis Luckritz and Gwen Miller.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s.
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