Richard A. "Rick" Derr

Richard A. “Rick” Derr, 63, of Maynard, Iowa, died Monday afternoon, Nov. 24, 2014, at his home.

Memorial Services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, 2014, at Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein with Rev. Connie Markle officiating.

Visitation was held at 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014, at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Maynard.

Inurnment will be held at a later date.

Richard Avery Derr was born January 30, 1951, at Estherville, Iowa, the son of Calvin Charles and Gwen Rita (Avery) Derr.  He graduated from Starmont High School.  On April 28, 1973, he was united in marriage to Shirley Martha Allan at Greene, Iowa.  Rick was a farmer and an auto body perfectionist, owning his own body shop.  He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Oelwein. During his farming years, he served on the Fayette County Pork Producers Board and served as president for one year.  Rick was a stock car flagman for over 20 years at several Northeast Iowa racing tracks.  He enjoyed racing, NASCAR, camping, working the land and mowing the lawn.  Most of all, he loved being a proud papa and attending the grandchildren’s activities.

Rick is survived by his wife, Shirley Derr of Maynard; son, Joshua (Lisa)  Derr of Rochester, Minnesota; daughter, Amanda (Joshua) Morris of Oelwein; 6 grandchildren, Aiden, Kiera and Owen Derr and Amy, Paul and Riley Morris; mother, Gwen Derr of Oelwein; 2 brothers, James (Beth) Derr of Dyersville and Edward (Sarah) Derr of Springville, Missouri; 3 sisters, Mary Ellen Day of Postville, Nancy (Gary) Goedken of Arlington and  Jennifer (Troy) Brandt of Ft. Dodge; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents; father; and a brother-in-law, David Day.

A Memorial Fund has been established in his name.

Online obituary at www.jamisonschmitzfuneralhome.com