Mary L. Derr

1930 - 2025

Mary L. Derr

June 7, 1930 - March 1, 2025

COLUMBUS - Mary L. Derr, age 94, passed away on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at Home Again Assisted Living in Columbus, WI. She was born on June 7, 1930, in Stoughton, WI, to Melvin and Gladys Monson. She attended Columbia County Teachers College (Normal School) in Columbus and taught in a one-room schoolhouse after graduating.

While attending college, she met her husband Donald A. Derr at a "box lunch social" at the Columbus Pavilion. Mary and Don married on June 14, 1952 in Stoughton. Their marriage lasted for 65 years until Don passed away on July 4, 2017. Mary had a full-time job as a farm wife and mother to seven children born within 10 years. Her selfless love for her family included many hours driving her children to and from town to participate in sporting events and other extracurricular activities. She also took on additional part-time jobs over the years: teacher's aide in the Columbus School District and working the holiday season at the Wisconsin Cheeseman in Sun Prairie.

When Mary and Don retired, they spent 15 winters at Fairway Village in Largo, FL, where Mary was active in the musical theater group. Mary was a devoted member of St. Jerome Catholic Church, where she was actively involved with the Altar Society and choir. She also enjoyed baking cookies for the Christmas fundraiser, making ornaments for the craft fair, and volunteering to call donors for the blood drive. She truly enjoyed giving her time and energy to benefit others.

Mary loved trying out new recipes and in 1986 placed third for "Chicken Amaretto" in the Wisconsin State Journal recipe contest. Mary also had an artistic talent and enjoyed painting, singing and playing piano. When she needed a little quiet, she could always escape to one of her many library books.

Mary is survived by her seven children: James (Emmer Capadona) Derr of Pleasant Hill CA, Marcia Derr of Boulder CO, Barbara (Enrique) Ginzburg of Miami Beach FL, Nancy (Chuck) Knoeck of Wausau WI, Michael (Lisa) Derr of Beaver Dam WI, Gerald (Bonni Brown) Derr of Beaver Dam WI, and John (Mary Anne) Derr of Fountain Hills AZ.

She is also survived by four sisters-in-law, Norene Norman of Fall River WI, Mary Ann Severson of Columbus WI, Evelyn McNulty of Columbus WI, and Marlene (Ron) Widdel of Westlake Village CA; dear friend, Charlie Johnson of Columbus WI; and many other friends.

Mary's 11 grandchildren are, Nate (Taylor) Knoeck, Matt Knoeck, Eric Ginzburg, Kyle Ginzburg, Nick Derr, Alex Derr, Paul Derr, Jacob Derr, Adam Derr, Ben Diener and Livia Diener.

Mary is preceded in death by her husband, her parents; brother Rodney Monson and infant brother; three sisters-in-law: Terry Monson, Carol Monson and Marjorie Henriksen; five brothers-in-law: Thomas Hughes, Orvil Henriksen, Donald Severson, Robert McNulty, and James Norman.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 22, with visitation beginning at 10 a.m. at St. Jerome Catholic Church, Columbus. Interment will be at Hillside Cemetery in Columbus, WI.

Memorials may be directed to either St. Jerome Church or to your charity of choice.

The Derr family extends heartfelt thanks to Home Again Assisted Living caregivers and Heartland Hospice staff for their loving compassion and care.

We encourage you to share your online condolences with Mary's family at jensenfuneralandcremation.com.