John J. Derr

DERR, MOSER, AMOS, WEGNER, BIRDNOW, BELKNAP, OLSON, WEAVER, JOHNNSON, BRADLEY, RANDALL, HILLMAN, WALKER

Posted By: diane (email)
Date: 12/2/2021 at 18:49:08

John J. Derr, 94, of Oelwein, Iowa and formerly of Hazleton and Arlington, died on Saturday morning, February 24, 2018 at Arlington Place Assisted Living in Oelwein with his family at his bedside.

Funeral Service: 10:30 A.M. Thursday, March 1, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church in Hazleton with Pastor Duane Olsen officiating.

Visitation: 4:00 to 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and for one hour before the service on Thursday at the church.

Interment: Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, rural Oelwein, Iowa.

A memorial fund has been established in his name.

John Junior Derr, VI was born on August 28, 1923 in Edgewood, IA the son of John and Clara Belle (Moser) Derr, V. He received his education at the Mason City and Strawberry Point schools. He later completed his education by obtaining his GED in California. John was united in marriage to the love of his life, Evelyn June Amos on March 8th, 1944 at the Emanuel Lutheran Church parsonage in Strawberry Point, IA. They were happily married for 66 years. They farmed at Lamont, Arlington, and then in 1950 moved to the “big farm” where they farmed for 23 years, seven miles southwest of Arlington. John’s early farming career was with big draft horses which he loved. His favorites being Prince and Colonel. John was a diversified farmer with livestock and grain. His love and interest in farming and livestock continued all his life. In 1973 they retired to Downey, California, until they moved to Hazleton in 1983. John lived in Hazleton for 34 years before moving to Arlington Place in Oelwein in March of 2017.

John was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Hazleton, Joy Builders, Good Sam’s camping club, and card clubs. He enjoyed traveling in his retirement to visit his children and grandchildren to the four corners of the U.S.

John was an example of how to live your life with hard work, integrity, love for your family and the Lord, with a smile and a positive outlook.

John is survived by his four children, Judith (Vern) Wegner of Mansfield, Texas. John (Sharon) Derr of Dana Point, California, June (Mark) Birdnow of Jesup, Iowa and Janet (Frank) Belknap of Poway, California. There are eight grandchildren, Jeff (Debbie) Wegner, Julie (Koby) Olson, Jennifer (Gary) Weaver, Jamie (Scott) Johnson, Jeremy Birdnow (special friend Jenni), Justin (Meghan) Birdnow, Jenna Belknap, and James Belknap. There are twenty one great grandchildren. Bradley, Jeremy (Jackie) Randall, Jarett, Jaycie, Jonah, Donna, Daniel, David Wegner. Jacob, Jonathon Olson. Luke, Dillon, Mason, Cora Weaver. Jayce, Evelyn, Mackenzie, Claire Birdnow. Hayden Johnson. There are two great-great-grandchildren, Emma and Ava Wegner. And a special friend, Helen Hillman of Oelwein.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Evelyn on December 14, 2010, two brothers Calvin and Don Derr and sister Darlene Walker.