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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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Derby, William E.
William E. Derby, beloved husband, son, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and brother, of Cedar Rapids, died at home with his family by his side, on Thursday, Nov. 4, 2010. He was 75. Funeral Mass: 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 8, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Cedar Rapids, by the Rev. Christopher Podhajsky. Visitation: 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Stewart Baxter Funeral & Memorial Services, Cedar Rapids, with a Knights of Columbus rosary at 6:30 p.m. Visitation is also one hour before the service Monday at the church. Burial: Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.
Survivors include his wife, Jean; mother, Delphine; four sons, William J., Steven (Sherry), Michael (Dana) and Scott (Ronda) Derby; five daughters, Deborah (Dennis) Pickens, Patricia Derby, Barbara (Daniel) Wagner, Darcie Derby and Dixie Derby; brother, Lee Derby; sister, Beverly Henkel; 23 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Bill was born Nov. 8, 1934, in Dubuque, Iowa, the son of Lee J. and Delphine (Betz) Derby. He graduated from the Loras Academy and attended Loras College. On Feb. 21, 1955, he married Jean Gerlach in Bellevue, Iowa. Bill retired in 1997 after 40 years as an engineer with Iowa Manufacturing/Raytheon.
Bill was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, where he was currently serving on the building and grounds committee, and was a former grade school football coach. Bill was also active in Knights of Columbus Council 909, where he was Grand Knight in 1980 and presently leader of Team 1 for steak and fish fries. He was a former leader with Boy Scouts of America Troop 1. Bill was passionate about Iowa Hawkeye football, enjoyed golfing with retiree friends and playing euchre.
Bill was preceded in death by his father, Lee; and a sister, Janaan Fink.
Bill will be sadly missed by everyone, especially family and friends.
Memorials may be directed to the Knights of Columbus Persons with Intellectual Disabilities Fund Drive for Discovery Living.
Please sign the online guest book and share a memory about Bill at
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