116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Obituaries
The Gazette publishes obituaries on a daily basis. Use the search field above to search for obituaries by name or keyword. Readers can submit an obituary or submit a milestone to The Gazette. The obituary must be submitted before 1 p.m. for publication on thegazette.com at 6 p.m. and in the daily edition the next day, with the exception of obituaries for Sunday publication, which must be submitted by 1 p.m. on Fridays.
Gwen Derr
GWEN R. DERR
Oelwein
Gwen R. Derr, 86, of Oelwein, died Sunday afternoon, Feb. 7, 2016, at Oelwein Health Care Center. Mass of Christian Burial: 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 12, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Oelwein, with the Rev. Paul C. McManus officiating. Visitation: 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Friday at Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home, Oelwein. C.D.A. rosary: 4:30 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Parish Scripture service: 7 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oelwein.
A memorial fund has been established.
Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com.
Gwen is survived by her five children, Mary Ellen Day of Postville, Nancy (Gary) Goedken of Arlington, James (Beth) Derr of Dyersville, Edward (Sarah) Derr of Springfield, Mo., and Jennifer (Troy) Brandt of Fort Dodge; daughter-in-law, Shirley Derr of Maynard; 17 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; brother, Cliff Duane Avery of Oelwein; two sisters, Audrey Thompson of Chicago and Phoebe Ann "Dolly" Vargason of Oelwein; and many nieces and nephews.
Gwen was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Cal, on Nov. 29, 1993; son, Richard; son-in-law, David Day; sisters-in-law, Carol Avery and Jan Pirillo; and a brother-in-law, Richard Vargason.
Daily Newsletters