Roger Henry DERSCHEID

DERSCHEID, NOREM, MELLGREN, ELLSWORTH, SPANGLER, DWIGGINS, COLE, LINN, KNUDSEN, WAYMAN, WINDSOR, ORTH, MELCHER, ROMAINE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:03

August 7, 1936 ---- November 2, 2017

Roger Henry ("Putty") Derscheid was born on August 7, 1936 to Glen Allen and Edith Kay (Norem) Derscheid at the farm home he grew up on in Troy Township. He had the blessing of joining a large family including 14 siblings: Bernita [Dwiggins] (Jean) - deceased, Jane [Spangler] (Honey) - deceased, Dorie (George Cole) - Minnesota, Elsie [Ellsworth] (Boot) - deceased, Einar (Bud) - deceased, infant twins Mildred and Margaret - deceased, Ramona - Des Moines, Shirley (Peach) - Milford, Max - deceased, Beverly - Ankeny, James - deceased, Kay - Ankeny, Allen - Arizona.

He attended country school in Troy Township and completed the balance of his education in Eagle Grove Schools. In youth, he was industrious and determined, crafting his own wheelbarrow from scrap wood and purchasing his very own bicycle which he rode until the tires were bald on 3 sets! He loved innocent mischief, cherry bombs, motorcycles, Big Bands and music from the 1950's, classic cars (especially Mercuries from the '50's) and John Deere machinery.

Roger served in the Air National Guard returning to Eagle Grove after BASIC training to continue farming. He met his life-long partner Mary Rae Mellgren in Eagle Grove offering to drive her home from work at the Bell Telephone office. They married on February 3rd, 1962, making their home on the Derscheid family farm 2 miles west of Troy Park. In 1964 and 1966 respectively, they welcomed daughter Denise (Linn) - Des Moines, and Roger (Todd), who carries on the family legacy of farming.

Roger built his farming operation on a gift of 40 acres upon his father's passing, and through faith, hard-work and sacrifice added an additional 520 acres to his care. He maintained an orderly shop, making sure EVERYTHING had its proper place and that it was kept that way. He was a skilled welder and great mechanic willing to share his talents with neighbors whenever he could. He was quick to organize assistance for neighbors struggling to get field work done or get crops out, especially when they were dealing with health issues or other adversities. His shop was a neighborhood gathering spot where one could find a cold drink and a bit of conversation if there wasn't work to be done outside the shop!

Putty LOVED and enjoyed hosting his large extended family with special visits to the farm - always willing to get tractors, motorcycles, go-carts and 4-wheelers ready for fun. The farm is also where he chose to host friends for his own birthday party in the shop. All Derscheid family reunions started with a night on the farm complete with rides, pizza, potato gun shooting, a bonfire and s'mores. He loved to link everyone to their roots and created many fond memories for his loved ones.

Roger was no stranger to adversity; bearing the loss of the farm home where he was born to a fire in 1989. Another devastating fire in 2004 wiped out his machine shed, including his prized 1957 Thunderbird convertible, his 1956 Mercury hardtop, Harley Davidson's and virtually all tools and machinery to carry on the operation. At the age of 68, when most people enjoy retirement freedom, he set-out to rebuild the entire operation with Todd.

In 1998, he and Mary became "snowbirds", purchasing a condominium in Mesa, AZ over the phone. He always dreaded leaving the farm in December and pushed to return as soon as April 1st was in sight. He made the best of his time away, picking and juicing fresh oranges daily and scouring flea markets for crescent wrenches, pliers, blow torches and fire extinguishers, which he restored fastidiously to original condition.

Roger had very strong opinions on how any project should be tackled, and one quickly realized that, right or wrong, it was HIS WAY or the highway! Conversely, he championed the underdog, befriending many who were marginalized or down-trodden by life circumstances. He felt strongly that balancing mental health should garner the same respect and compassion as that given to balancing one's physical health.

Roger battled heart disease following a heart attack at age 58. He accumulated 10 heart stents via numerous interventions. For the past 2 years, he had suffered extreme weight loss and fatigue, digestive issues, and arthritis pain. He could no longer work hard, which was the only speed he was accustomed to. When he could no longer spend his days at the farm, he was like a fish out of water and he struggled to navigate such a foreign existence. The joy he found on the farm was hard to find elsewhere and the struggle became too much.

He had an uncanny ability to calculate and control critical situations - as anyone who ever rode in a tractor, car, truck or on a motorcycle KNOWS. He was able to maintain that same control and composure as he entered the final critical situation he faced in life - Intensive Care. Roger was transported to Fort Dodge Hospital on October 31st where he was diagnosed with pneumonia. He suffered complications upon admission and was transferred to ICU where all attempts to arrest the fluid build-up in his lungs failed. He maintained composure and dignity to the very end. He personally directed Hospice care and passed away 20 minutes after arriving at the Baber Hospice Home on November 2, 2017.

Roger's nurse found him to be remarkable. In all her years of nursing, she had never had a patient in such critical condition remain so lucid, responsive and in control of his situation. He had a strong faith and was prepared to follow his Lord into eternal rest. She told us that he pointed to the end of his bed and said he was following his pathway. When she asked him what path he was on, he said "HEAVEN". He is finally at peace. What joy!

Left to cherish his memory are his faithful wife, Mary; son, Todd (Jan); daughter, Denise (Scott) Linn; grandson's, Macklin and Eliason; sisters, Dorie (George) Cole, Mona Knudsen, Shirley Sunner, Beverly (Rodney) Knudsen and Kay Wayman; brother, Allen (Gail); cousins: Donna Windsor, John Orth, Susan Derscheid, Phyllis Melcher, Bruce Derscheid, Bill Orth, Joann Romaine and Larry Norem and a host of nieces and nephews.

Roger is lovingly remembered for his thrift, his ingenuity, his generous heart, his contentment with the simple life, his hard work-ethic and his love for the land to which he dedicated his entire life. In lieu of flowers, the family has established a fund to restore trees and wind-breaks on the farm he loved so dearly.

Visitation --- Tuesday, November 7, 2017 - 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Foust Funeral Home, 103 N. Cadwell Ave, Eagle Grove, Iowa

Memorial Service --- Wednesday, November 8, 2017 - 11:00 AM
United Methodist Church, 421 W. Broadway, Eagle Grove, Iowa

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