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Edward Dirk Ammala
EDWARD DIRK AMMALA
Rolla, Mo.
Dr. Edward Dirk Ammala passed away May 31, 2017, at Phelps County Regional Medical Center in Rolla, Mo.
Dirk was born Jan. 11, 1958, in Ironwood, Mich., the son of Edward Dave and Gloria (Levra) Ammala. He graduated from Prairie High School in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1976. He went on to study chemistry at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., before attending medical school at the same institution, graduating in 1984. He married Wendy Sue Gorkow in Walford, Iowa, on Sept. 30, 1989.
Dirk began full-time active duty military service following completion of his internship as a captain in the Army. He was stationed in Panama for three years before returning stateside where he was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood as an emergency room physician.
In 1993, he began his career at PCRMC as an emergency physician. He was forced to take a medical retirement in 2009. Dirk had many serious health issues but he never complained.
Dirk is survived by his wife, Wendy Gorkow; and his daughter, Katerina Roberge. He was loved and will be missed by many.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Michael "Mick" Ammala; and aunt and uncle, Frances and Eugene Levra.
Memorial contributions are suggested to St. Louis University, Attn.: Lisa Schaffer, 1402 S. Grand Blvd., Schwitalla Hall, Room M268, St. Louis, MO 63104.
A celebration of Dirk's life will be held June 24 from 2 to 4 p.m. at Di Trapani's Italian Bistro in Rolla.
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