Elke Margarete Firth

Elke Margarete (Dzierzon) Firth, age 79, passed peacefully in her home with loved ones at her side on February 14th, 2024.

Elke was the eldest child born to Margarete (Schaarschmidt) and Arno Kurt Dzierzon in Geyersdorf, Saxony, Germany on February 16th, 1944.  She is survived by her son, Sean DzierzonFirth (Stacy), four grandchildren, Harrison, Abigail, Lucia and Isabelle, her sister Uta Jenkins (ElRay), and her brother, Holger Dzierzon (Kathy). With their parents in June 1957, Elke and her siblings fled Communist East Germany for Kiel, West Germany.  In September 1958, they immigrated to the United States. Elke had a deep abiding love for the freedoms this country offered her family and was considered by many who knew her to be a deep patriot.

Elke spent the early part of her career as an entrepreneur, owning her own successful business for more than 15 years.  In a constructive mid-life crisis she found a new love in the law and completed an associates degree, worked many years in practice, and finished her career as a paralegal.

Elke had a passion for many things in life. She loved to boat, waterski, snow ski, camp, fish, and do anything that brought her family together to make lasting memories. She delighted in sharing her German heritage and culture through inviting others to enjoy the cuisine and traditions with her family and friends.  

Most dear to Elke’s heart is music. She loved to sing, play the piano, but mostly she loved leading choirs.  She served as choir director in many congregations and found her true calling in life singing with and managing The Sterling Singers for several years.

More than anything else, Elke found peace and solace serving in and attending the Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Funeral Services will held at 12:30 p.m., on February 20th, 2024 at the Little Cottonwood 20th Ward, at 1160 Vine Street, Murray, UT, 84121.  

A viewing will precede it at 10:30am. Elke will be interred at 3 p.m. at the Memorial Lakeview Cemetery at

1640 Lakeview Dr, Bountiful, UT 84010.