Derek Thornton

DEREK JOHN THORNTON

Cedar Rapids

Derek John Thornton, 45, lost his courageous battle with cancer surrounded by love and peace in his own home on Friday, May 5, 2017.

Derek was born to Beverly (Nyght) and Tim Thornton on Oct. 12, 1971, and graduated from George Washington High School in 1990. In 2000, Derek met the love of his life, Sonya (Daniels). They married at Bloomsbury Farms in Atkins on May 28, 2005. He also began working at In Tolerance Manufacturing that year and met many co-workers, who would soon become lifelong friends.

Derek was a man with a brain that was always working. He was always thinking up new ideas, whether it was for one of his many hobbies over the years or for work. He had an amazing love for the great outdoors and just being in nature, which spurred a love of hunting and fishing. Derek loved the time spent deer hunting with his father- and brother-in-law, dove hunting with his friends or trout fishing with Sonya (even though she always caught more than him).

Derek and Sonya built a life in Cedar Rapids during the short time that they had together on this earth. They enjoyed spending time with friends, family and each other, and doing many outdoor activities or just lounging around the house with their fur babies, Romeo and Juliet.

Derek is survived by his parents, Beverly and Tim Thornton; brother, Ed, all of Cedar Rapids; his mother- and father-in-law, Rufus and Nancy Daniels; brother-in-law, Shawn, all of Troy Mills; and his loving wife, Sonya Thornton, and their fur babies, Romeo and Juliet.

The family would like to thank the Ghosh Center and Mercy Hospice for taking such tremendous care of Derek during his time spent fighting this awful disease.

A gathering to celebrate Derek will be planned for a later date.

Arrangements with Murdoch-Linwood Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Cedar Rapids.

Please share a memory of Derek at www.murdochfuneralhome.com under obituaries.