Born at home in Richmond Hill, Queens, NY, he moved to Dunwoody in 1967 where and when he fulfilled his lifelong dream of moving out of the cold.
In Dunwoody he raised his family, was a foster parent to 15 babies, formed friendships, starred as "Ward Wonderful" in the plays at St. Jude's in Sandy Springs, and discovered he had a passion for commercial real estate - an industry he worked in for 6 decades, earning a CCIM designation as well as being a Top 20 Seller in the Greater Atlanta Area in 1984.
In 1985 he was introduced to Kairos Prison Ministry and jumped into it with his characteristic over-enthusiasm. He entertained with his (bad) singing, touched lives with his life testimony, but most importantly sharing the Love of Jesus with everyone.
Jim Dirr was predeceased by his son Padraic Andrew, his daughter Kathleen Mary Theresa Dirr, and his son Christopher Douglas Andrew.
He was predeceased by his parents, Peter and Marie; his 4 brothers Pete, John, Joe, and Frank; and 7 of his sisters Marie, Gert, Theresa, Helen, Catherine, Margaret, and Annie.
He is survived by his son, Jim and his wife Angie; his daughter Moira Block and her husband Larry Block, who was his main helper over the past 5 years; his former wife Kathie; his youngest sister Sabina Grimmelbein; dozens and dozens of nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews who he loved dearly and prayed for all the time; and most importantly his grandson Aidan Padraig José Dirr.
A Wake and Rosary will be held Thursday, February 12th at 6:00 p.m. at H. M. Patterson & Son - Arlington Chapel, 173 Allen Road, Sandy Springs, with a Mass of the Resurrection at Holy Spirit Catholic Church, 4465 Northside Dr NW on Friday February 13, at 1:00 pm with a reception with the family to follow and then an internment at Arlington Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Pregnancy Aid Clinic - Roswell, 281 South Atlanta St., Roswell, 30075.
