John Herman Dikkers Jr., 89, of Shannon, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013 at Freeport Rehab and Health Care. Born May 15, 1923 in Racine, WI he was the son of John Sr. and Hillegonda (Joor) Dikkers. Following the death of his mother when he was an infant, he and his brother Bill and sister Minnie were raised by Frank and Grace (Wichman) Knoll in rural Stephenson County. On July 22, 1945 he married Ruth Hull at Cedarville Evangelical Congregational Church in Cedarville. John was self-employed most of his life, as a milk hauler and then as a farmer. He was a member of Baileyville Reformed Church for many years where he served as deacon and elder. He attended Cedarville Emmanuel Church.
He was a Florence Township Trustee for 12 years.
Surviving are his wife, Ruth of Shannon; six children, Ken (friend Beth Issacson) Dikkers, Sandra (Brian) Murphy of Shannon, Mary Dikkers, Linda (Orville) Miller, Rhonda Youngblut all of Freeport, Dolores (Richard) Woessner of Pearl City; twelve grandchildren Roy (JoAnn) Woessner, Paul (Rose) Woessner, Stacy Miller, John (Kelly) Miller, Angela (Eric) Dykema, Laura, Kyle, and Rachel (Ryan Vance) Youngblut, and William, Katherine, Anthony, and Steven Murphy; one great granddaughter Harley Miller; sister-in-law Wanda Dikkers, brother-in-law Roy VanRaden and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, William Dikkers; sisters, Alice (Harold) Meyer, Dena (Bud) Bloom; and Minnie VanRaden.
Funeral services will be 10 am Thursday at Cedarville Emmanuel Church with Reverend Mark Balmer and Reverend Dennis Buss officiating. Burial will be in the Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be 5pm until 7pm at Walker Mortuary.