Johnnie J Jr Dirickson

BURLEY – Johnnie J. Dirickson Jr., 68, returned to the Spirit World on Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020, at Highland Estates Assisted Living in Burley.

He was born September 21, 1951, in Burley, Idaho. He was one of three children born to John and Dorothy Dirickson.

Johnnie lived his whole life in Burley, and in his early years worked for the World Newspaper (which later became the South Idaho Press) as a press operator and then for Valley Wholesale in the warehouse. Early in his career he was struck by a disabling illness and unable to work. He spent his time taking care of his parents; he loved cooking for them and anyone else that came along. His specialties were chili and roast beef. He loved animals and his nieces and nephews. He felt it was his responsibility to feed all the neighborhood feral cats. Plus he had a longtime companion dog named Bowser.

Johnnie was one of those rare souls that, even though he didn’t have much, if you needed it, he’d give it to you.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Dorothy Dirickson; nephew, David Anderson of Nampa; aunts and uncles, Carl and Helen Jones of Boise, and Herman and Vera Stapleman of Rupert.

He is survived by one sister, Pat (Larry) Anderson of Nampa; and one brother, Randy (Leslie) Dirickson of Blackfoot; as well as nieces, Sonya (Jamie) Moon, Pam (Ciro) Gaona, and Katie (David) Tuft; nephews, Jacob (Cherish) Dirickson, and Andrew (Veronica) Anderson; plus many cousins and grand-nieces and nephews.

His family would like to give special gratitude to Kathy Eckley for being Johnnie’s friend and helping take care of him over the years, and also a special thanks to Mary Beth Kraemer for her care of Johnnie.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, February 21, 2020, at Gem Memorial Gardens, located at 2435 Overland Ave., in Burley. Friends and family may call from 12:30 until 1:30 p.m. prior to the service at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 E 16th St., in Burley.