Dirnberger remembered for devotion to citizens

Tom Dirnberger

ORAN - When people recall the late Tom Dirnberger, it is his devotion to those who elected him to public office that they first mention.

Dirnberger, who began serving as Scott County's recorder of deeds in 1995, died Thursday from cancer.

"Tom was the type of person who showed up every morning at 7:30 because he wanted to be the one to open his office. He was the one to answer the phone. He wanted to be readily available to the public," said Scott County Presiding Commissioner Jamie Berger, who described Dirnberger as a lifelong friend.

Berger said whenever someone brought Dirnberger a problem, he worked hard to resolve it. He recalled Dirnberger discovered several parcels of property which were abandoned by the railroad many years ago and not on the county's record books. Berger said Dirnberger made phone calls and worked to get the parcels back on the books where people could use the property.

"He did it all the time for everybody," said Berger. "(Tom Dirnberger) would go the extra mile to help the people."

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