Roger Derr

Roger Allen Derr, 51, of Grand Island, formerly of Wood River, died Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, at St. Francis Medical Center from complications from diabetes.

Memorial services will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Wood River Fire Station, Wood River, with the Rev. Terry Boshart officiating. Private Inurnment of the ashes will be at a later date. Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family.

Mr. Derr was born Oct. 30, 1958, in Grand Island the son of Robert and Norma (Hayse) Derr. He received his education from Wood River graduating with the class of 1977. He attended Central Community College in Hastings studying accounting before joining the family farm. He was always studying for something from a private pilots license to becoming a certified ASE mechanic while operating Valley Oil Co. After joining the Wood River Fire Department he was issued a certificate as a National Firefighter I along with numerous certifications for different fire fighting responses, Nationally Registered Paramedic, an ARRL Amateur Radio operator and when he quit farming he returned to school and became a Licensed Practical Nurse. He worked at New Holland as the nurse and manager of the dispensary and then a Polysomnographic Technologist for Somnos Sleep Disorders Center until he was no longer able to work.

He was united in marriage to Audrey North on March 13, 1982, in Wood River. The couple made their home in the area until 2007. He diligently volunteered 22 years for the Wood River Fire Department leading them to raise the level of emergency medical care to Paramedic providers, as he didn't feel the rural residents should have fewer emergency medical care options than urban residents. He was instrumental in Wood River becoming the one of the first all volunteer Paramedic Rescue Squads in the state. He was honored with the Nebraska Paramedic of the year by NEMSA in 2004. Over the years he held almost every office on the department including serving as fire chief for several years.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Wood River. His passion was for the Wood River Fire Department but he also enjoyed photography, using HAM radio to communicate with others all over the world, traveling to several Diners Drive-ins and Dives and spending time with family and friends.

Survivors of the immediate family include his wife, Audrey, son, Ethan, student at UNL; his parents, Robert and Norma Derr of Grand Island; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jerry and Kay of Grand Island, Michael and Holly of Harvard and their families; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Harry and Celia North of Buffalo, Mo.; sister-in-law, Shelly Shaver of Indianapolis; brother-in-law, Roy North of St. Charles, Mo., and their families.

He was preceded in death by Elmer and Agnes Derr and John and Minnie Hayse.

Please sign the guestbook at www.theindependent.com/obits.