Terry Lee Derby
September 28, 1947 — July 15, 2013
Terry L. Derby - Age 65
Terry Lee Derby was born on September 28, 1947 to Wilson and Della Mae (Conklin) Derby in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He attended the very first kindergarten class to go through the Avoca Elementary School and graduated from AvoHa High School with the Class of 1965.
On September 20, 1971, Terry was united in marriages to Diane Gessert in Council Bluffs. They became parents to two children: Jo Lene and Frank.
Terry joined the United States Navy on November 4, 1965. He spent twenty months overseas on the USS Piedmont (tender destroyer) before being honorably discharged in 1969 as a Second Class Torpedoman.
After returning home, he spent one year as a water plant operator at the Avoca Water Works. In 1972, he began employment at the Harlan Municipal Utilities as a midnight shift operator and retired as a water superintendent in 2003. He had been a resident of Harlan since 1979 and a member of the Helmer Reyelt American Legion Post No. 150, the Legion Riders, and a lifetime member of the NRA.
Terry was an avid hunter whether it be coyotes, prairie dogs, coons, deer or many other hunting experiences. He was an excellent marksman at long range shooting and had a special interest in singing and playing his guitar. Terry also rode his Harley and loved being with his friends and family camping. In his spare time Terry carved many different animals including ducks which earned him his hunting name �Woodduck.� Terry had a great respect for the military and his country, and always said �God Bless America - Keep America Free.�
Terry died on Monday, July 15, 2013 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of sixty-five years, nine months, and seventeen days. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Charles.
He is survived by his wife of nearly forty-two years, Diane Derby of Harlan, Iowa; daughter Jo Lene and her husband Gary Petersen of Harlan; son Frank Derby and Pota of Atlantic, Iowa; five grandchildren: Ana and Ross Petersen and Alexis, Alyssa, and Andrew Derby; brother Franklin Derby and his wife Sue of Carroll, Iowa; sister Janis and her husband Tom Palmer of Kirkland, Washington; sister-in-law Peggy Derby of Ocala, Florida; other family members and friends.
Pastor Joe Pennington officiated the 10:30 AM funeral service on Friday, July 19, 2013 at Fresh Encounter Fellowship in Harlan, Iowa.
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Terry Lee Derby was born on September 28, 1947 to Wilson and Della Mae (Conklin) Derby in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He attended the very first kindergarten class to go through the Avoca Elementary School and graduated from AvoHa High School with the Class of 1965.
On September 20, 1971, Terry was united in marriages to Diane Gessert in Council Bluffs. They became parents to two children: Jo Lene and Frank.
Terry joined the United States Navy on November 4, 1965. He spent twenty months overseas on the USS Piedmont (tender destroyer) before being honorably discharged in 1969 as a Second Class Torpedoman.
After returning home, he spent one year as a water plant operator at the Avoca Water Works. In 1972, he began employment at the Harlan Municipal Utilities as a midnight shift operator and retired as a water superintendent in 2003. He had been a resident of Harlan since 1979 and a member of the Helmer Reyelt American Legion Post No. 150, the Legion Riders, and a lifetime member of the NRA.
Terry was an avid hunter whether it be coyotes, prairie dogs, coons, deer or many other hunting experiences. He was an excellent marksman at long range shooting and had a special interest in singing and playing his guitar. Terry also rode his Harley and loved being with his friends and family camping. In his spare time Terry carved many different animals including ducks which earned him his hunting name �Woodduck.� Terry had a great respect for the military and his country, and always said �God Bless America - Keep America Free.�
Terry died on Monday, July 15, 2013 at Myrtue Medical Center in Harlan, Iowa, having attained the age of sixty-five years, nine months, and seventeen days. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Charles.
He is survived by his wife of nearly forty-two years, Diane Derby of Harlan, Iowa; daughter Jo Lene and her husband Gary Petersen of Harlan; son Frank Derby and Pota of Atlantic, Iowa; five grandchildren: Ana and Ross Petersen and Alexis, Alyssa, and Andrew Derby; brother Franklin Derby and his wife Sue of Carroll, Iowa; sister Janis and her husband Tom Palmer of Kirkland, Washington; sister-in-law Peggy Derby of Ocala, Florida; other family members and friends.
Pastor Joe Pennington officiated the 10:30 AM funeral service on Friday, July 19, 2013 at Fresh Encounter Fellowship in Harlan, Iowa.
PDF Printable Version
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