[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]

Derry, Melvin Dwight 1938-2012

DERRY, AUSTIN, TRAVIS, GOODALE, SICKLES, SKINNER, VAN ARKEL, SOTO, BARCUS, ANTELMAN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/19/2016 at 08:04:04

Melvin Dwight Derry
August 15, 1938 - February 27, 2012
Dexter, Iowa

Melvin Derry age 73, passed away February 27, 2012 in a farm accident south of Stuart. A memorial service will be held 11:00 A.M. Tuesday March 6, 2012, at the Johnson Family Funeral Home – Stuart. Burial will be at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Melvin Derry memorial fund in care of the funeral home 123 NE 2nd Street Box 246 Stuart, Iowa 50250. Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com. Melvin was born August 15, 1938 near Panora, Iowa the first child of Harvey and Mabel Austin Derry. Melvin was raised with his brother George, on a farm north of Menlo Iowa. He graduated from Menlo High School with the class of 1957. While in High School, Melvin excelled in football and enjoyed playing all four years. Shortly after high school, Melvin joined the Army National Guard and served for several years within his unit.

Melvin was united in marriage to Marilyn Travis in 1958 and together they were blessed with three children, Rhonda, Wanda and Roxanne. This marriage later ended in divorce. He then married Vicki Goodale in July of 1966 in Omaha, Nebraska. This marriage was blessed with the birth of seven children, Pamela, Eric, Brian, Pat, Gregory, Sandra and Chad. Together they made their home in Des Moines for many years.

Shortly after high school, Melvin worked briefly at an egg plant in Des Moines. He left there and went to Mitchells Transmissions and worked there for several years. Following Mitchells, Melvin went to work for Metro Ford and worked part-time for Amaco Transmission. He also opened his own auto service shop and worked out of his home in Des Moines. After his father's death in 1973, Melvin took over running the family farm along with truck driving. After retiring from farming, Melvin continued driving truck until 2008. His current employment was with Gary Crabbs in Earlham, and worked there until his death. Melvin occupied most of his free time with vehicle projects and a special project of some antique farm tractors he was restoring. During his school years it was always joked about in Menlo that everyone knew when Melvin was coming to town because he had the loudest and fastest car around. Melvin's passion in life was working on cars. His co-workers and bosses at Mitchells always said that he could take a transmission apart, put it in a pile instead of laying all the parts out in order, and still put it back together correctly before anyone else could.

Besides his family, Melvin enjoyed spending time with his best friend who was like a brother, Jake Miller. In his younger years he enjoyed racing at the Stuart Speedway alongside his brother George. He always joked that he was a movie star, being part of the local movie Fever Heat filmed in the late 60's.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brother, George, infant daughter, Rhonda and infant son, Eric.

Melvin leaves behind his wife, Vicki; children, Wanda (Jeff) Sickles, Roxanne (Kent) Skinner, Pamela Derry (Dennis Van Arkel), Brian Derry, Pat Derry (Alena Soto), Gregory (Tammy) Derry, Sandra (Wade) Barcus, and Chad Derry; 9 grandchildren, John, Kyle, Kade, Brock, Kaden, Kamden, James, Brandie, and Lindsay; great grandson Carsyn; a very special niece, Karla Antelman and her children Angela and Shelby and a host of friends all of whom will miss him greatly. ~ The Des Moines Register, Des Moines, Iowa Sun 4 Mar 2012.


 

Dallas Obituaries maintained by Conni McDaniel Hall.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen

[ Return to Index ] [ Read Prev Msg ] [ Read Next Msg ]