Walter Dierks

Walter Dierks, 88, of Lehigh Acres, died Feb. 4, 2011.

Dierks lived an adventurous and active life on three continents.

He was born in 1923 in what was then Danzig, Germany. At age 8, he immigrated with his parents to Misiones, Argentina, where this pioneering family cleared the jungle to build a farm and home.

When he reached adulthood, Dierks moved to the capital city of Buenos Aires.

There he met and married his wife, Otilla, in 1962.

In 1957, he immigrated again, with his wife, to Canada and less than two years later, he realized his dream of immigrating to the United States, thanks to the generous sponsorship of a German-American New Yorker.

In New York City, Dierks pursued a career as an operating engineer until retiring to Florida in 1988.

In retirement, he volunteered for his church and the Kiwanis International. He was active in the retired International Union of Operating Engineers.

He enjoyed swimming and was doing laps in the Community Pool as late as November until his final illness overcame him.

Dierks is survived by his wife of 58 years, Otilla, and daughter, Ingrid and son-in-law, John, and granddaughter Nancy of Arlington, Va.

The family said he embodied Frank Sinatra’s song, “I did it my way.”

A memorial service for Dierks will be held at the Faith Lutheran Church, 705 Leeland Heights Blvd. in Lehigh Acres on Saturday, March 5 at 10 a.m.