A Funeral Mass for former State Senator Cap Dierks, age 89 of Ewing, NE will be 10:30 AM Friday, October 29, 2021 at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Ewing, NE.
Burial will follow in the St. Peter’s Catholic Cemetery with Military Rites by the Ewing American Legion Sanders Post 214. Rev. John Norman will officiate.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 5 to 7 PM at St. Peter’s Catholic Church with a Parish Rosary at 7 PM. Cap passed away on Friday, October 22, 2021 at the Arbor Care Center in O’Neill, NE. Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill is in charge of arrangements.
*Nebraska Farmers Union President John Hansen shares his thoughts on Cap Dierks, who many called him a strong friend of agriculture.
I first met Cap Dierks in the middle 1970’s. He was the Veterinary at both the Erickson and Atkinson Livestock Markets. Hansen Charolais had our annual bull sale at Atkinson. It did not take long before we were friends. My Dad and Cap were two smart people with great people skills, and a passion for family farm and ranch agriculture. When I said in the OWH article, everyone knew Cap, and to know him was to like him, I meant it. Everyone rightly thought of Cap as their good friend. Cap saw the good in everyone, sometimes to a fault. That was the way he chose to live his life. He lead by quiet, but powerful example.
I worked on Cap’s first campaign against Sen. John De Camp in 1986. Cap won 8,274 votes to 5,042, or 62% to 38%. It sent a powerful message to the Legislature that a rancher newcomer could defeat one of the most powerful, ruthless, and feared legislators so handily.
When I first went to the Capitol after being elected NeFU President in January of 1990, I stopped by Cap’s office. He welcomed me, congratulated me, and said he wanted me to know that his office was where I should be hanging my coat and leaving my briefcase from now on. And, so it was for 20 years. Oftentimes, at the end of the legislative day, we would compare perceptions of what went on that day, and discuss plans for the next day, and the rest of the week. There would often be other Senators stopping by to do the same. Before we parted, we would often swap stories, usually livestock based. Large animal veterinarians and ranchers have a lot of material to work with. And, there were the long telephone conversations while he drove the 175 miles home to Ewing, or back to Lincoln.
Cap was not only our NeFU member and our friend, he was also our full partner on almost all issues impacting agriculture, corporate farming, ag markets, natural resources, livestock, property taxes, local control, and renewable energy among others. Together, we changed the course of history to the good, not once, but many times. He was a powerful friend and leader. His vision, values, and interests were clear, and honest. He wanted to do what was right, even if that was not always the most popular or easy thing to do. The power of his example gave courage to his friends, and pause to those who opposed him.
Last weekend was a busy and tough weekend at our house, the second time in a month I got “the call” that none of us wants to get. As we strive to remember the good, and let go of the not so good, in Cap’s case, there is so much good to remember. Our organization, and me in particular, was blessed to have him as a member and partner all those many years.
Friends all, join me as I get out my checkbook and write a check to the NeFU Foundation in memory of my fallen friend, member, mentor, partner, and hero, Cap Dierks. Please join me by going to our website at: www.nebraskafarmersunion.org or send us a check to NeFU Foundation, 1305 Plum Street, Lincoln, NE 68502. A gift to our Foundation really is the gift that keeps on giving, and helps our Foundation support our efforts on behalf of family farm and ranch agriculture.
*Kevin Cooksley is President of the Nebraska Grange. He shared his thoughts on Cap…
Rural America lost one of its very best champions last night, retired LD40 State Senator from Ewing Cap Dierks got hit with one too many strokes. My longtime friend, rancher, veterinarian, Nebraska Farmers Union member, Chairman of the Legislature Agriculture Committee, Initiative 300 champion, was the father of Nebraska’s modern wind industry and ethanol industry and dozens of other major legislative accomplishments benefiting rural Nebraska. He was the most highly respected and effective State Senator I have ever had the honor to work with. A tip of the hat to a life well lived. Our sincere condolences to Gloria and the Dierks family.
