Darrell Derby

Darrell Derby, 61, of Des Moines passed away on August 19th, 2025, right where he wanted to be, at home with his best friend by his side.

Darrell made the courageous decision to opt out of any treatment after being diagnosed with terminal stage 4 cancer with no known treatment options. With immense peace in his decision, he went on an impromptu adventure with a good friend where he could "drive the wheels off of his Corvette in the mountains one last time", where it is rumored that he got a couple of good screams out of his terrified passenger. He drove in the mountains until he was no longer able before coming home to start his final journey. Even near the end he knew no other way than to give it all he had.

Darrell was a man of his word and tackled every problem, commitment or project to his own high standards. Whether it was tending to hummingbirds, getting more performance out of anything with an engine, taking care of his many loyal customers over the course of 37 years at Inland Truck Parts or caring for his mother day and night for 5 years; whatever he was doing, it had to be done right.

On water, Darrell loved his fishing trips. Whether he traveled to Ft. Peck, a trophy lake in South Dakota, Lake Ouachita or to his local fishing hole on Big Creek, he was always on the hunt for monster walleye. On land, he loved speed and lived by his motto, "life begins at 100 mph." His love of being on 2 wheels started early in life when he and his brother would ride dirt bikes, on to adulthood where he raced his custom Harley drag bike, cruised on his bagger and lowrider or adventured to the mountains on his Ducati. One of his proudest adventures was riding over 5,000 miles, from Iowa, through Glacier National Park and on to the Oregon coast and everywhere in between before traveling home.

He felt the most peace while traveling in the mountains and often shared fond memories of family vacations as a child and how he felt so blessed to have been able to see more of God's beauty at an early age than what most people see in a lifetime. He lived full throttle, and though he's gone, the echo of his engine still rumbles in the hearts of everyone lucky enough to ride alongside him.

Darrell is survived by his mother, Velma, his brother, Bryan as well as a host of family and friends. He's reunited in Heaven with his father, Rex, infant brother, Mark and his good friend, Doogie. Memorial contributions can be made in his honor to the Welcome Home Soldier Foundation in Albia, IA.

To honor Darrell, please don't feel the need to dress up. Come as you would if you were hanging out with him, comfortable, casual, and ready to share stories. Visitation will be from 5pm to 7pm, Thursday, August 28th at Iles Grandview Park Chapel, with his funeral at 10am, Friday, August 29th also at Iles Grandview Park Chapel. Burial will follow at Service Chapel Cemetery near Albia.