Johanna "Renee" Dirkmaat Erickson

Johanna Catharina Dirkmaat Erickson, 71, passed away Tuesday, April 28, 2015 in Cozumel, Mexico while on a cruise with family and friends. She was born July 27, 1943 in Hengelo, The Netherlands, to Hendrick "Hank" and Bastiaantja Cornelia Asshcheman Dirkmaat and raised by Freerjke "Fray" Dirkmaat, the only mother she knew. At the age of four she immigrated to Utah with her family. She grew up in Holladay, Utah and Los Angeles, California. Graduated from Westchester High School in Los Angeles and Brigham Young University with a degree in Elementary Education. Renee married Steven Reece Erickson August 29, 1969 in the Manti LDS Temple. She spent 24 years teaching for Granite School District where she taught lower elementary grades and was loved by students, parents and co-workers. She and Steve founded and operated The Shady Acres Daycare/Preschool in Sandy, Utah for many years. A life-long member of the LDS Church, she served in many callings and was a gifted teacher. Renee served two missions with her husband, a church service mission in the inner-city Granite Park Stake for 18 months, and a service mission at the American Fork Deseret Industries teaching English as a second language (ESL) to employees for six months. She was called and preparing to serve in the Salt Lake South Mission when she passed away. Renee loved to travel and visited many places with family and friends. She loved people and enjoyed watching them and learning about them. She also enjoyed knitting, crossword puzzles and decorating. An avid collector, Renee had a large cookie jar collection. Recently she began and loved to collect Disney trading pins. She is survived by her husband, Steve, West Jordan; children: Catharine Ann (Stephen) Kimball, Cedar Hills, UT; and Michael Reece Erickson, Salt Lake City, UT; 5 grandchildren: Maxwell Spencer Kimball, Sydney Kate Kimball, Abby Renee Kimball, Samuel Cole Kimball and Jackson Ryder Reece Kimball, all of Cedar Hills, UT; 4 siblings: Lily Elize Cannon, Davenport, FL; Gerrit Pieter (Gloria), Millbrae, CA; Henry William (Larilyn) Dirkmaat, Pinehurst, NC; and Dwight Elroy (Renee) Dirkmaat, Litchfield Park, AZ. Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 9, 2015, 11:00 a.m. at the Garden Cove Ward, 1948 West 9000 South where visitation will take place, 10-10:45 a.m. prior to services. Under the direction of McDougal Funeral Home. Interment, Larkin Sunset Gardens. In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints general missionary fund. Place of Birth:Hengelo, The NetherlandsPlace of Death:Cozumel, Mexico