Diane (Downs) Derr, formerly of Squaw Lake, died November 23, 2013 after a long struggle with lung cancer and brief hospice stay.
Born in Grand Rapids on April 13, 1941 she grew up in S. Lake and graduated from Blackduck High School as Salutatorian in 1958. Upon graduation Diane joined the Women's Army Corps and after training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama was posted to Ft. Eustis, Virginia where she met Bryan Derr, her husband of 53 years.
Forced by the policies of the time to leave active military service upon marriage and starting a family, Diane served as a federal civil servant in a variety of posts until Bryan's army retirement in 1976, when they moved to Max Township. Diane then worked for the Itasca County Sheriff's Office from 1976-1982. In 1983 they returned to Newport News, Virginia where she worked as a legal secretary and office manager until November of 2012. In her many years in the legal field she was most proud of facilitating adoptions for children leaving the foster care system.
An inveterate traveler, Diane enjoyed planning trips nearly as much as taking them and had reservations for a New York City theater and museum vacation for the new year at the time of her death. She gave generously to a variety of charities but had a special fondness for family shelters at Christmas, development charities like Heifer International and Kiva, and the social justice efforts of the Southern Poverty Law Center. A lifelong supporter of the Democratic party, she was particularly pleased with the outcome of the recent Virginia governor's race.
Diane is survived by husband Bryan; brother, Steve Downs ; daughters: Toni Wilcox (John), Jody Brantley (Tony) Danielle Clark (Brian); grandson, Dean Nelson, Jr.; granddaughters: Tessa Derr, Eva Espinozas, Crystal Wilcox, and Leah Small; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Eddie and Elna (Niska) Downs.
Burial was at the Peter and Eva Niska Memorial Cemetery.
Born in Grand Rapids on April 13, 1941 she grew up in S. Lake and graduated from Blackduck High School as Salutatorian in 1958. Upon graduation Diane joined the Women's Army Corps and after training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama was posted to Ft. Eustis, Virginia where she met Bryan Derr, her husband of 53 years.
Forced by the policies of the time to leave active military service upon marriage and starting a family, Diane served as a federal civil servant in a variety of posts until Bryan's army retirement in 1976, when they moved to Max Township. Diane then worked for the Itasca County Sheriff's Office from 1976-1982. In 1983 they returned to Newport News, Virginia where she worked as a legal secretary and office manager until November of 2012. In her many years in the legal field she was most proud of facilitating adoptions for children leaving the foster care system.
An inveterate traveler, Diane enjoyed planning trips nearly as much as taking them and had reservations for a New York City theater and museum vacation for the new year at the time of her death. She gave generously to a variety of charities but had a special fondness for family shelters at Christmas, development charities like Heifer International and Kiva, and the social justice efforts of the Southern Poverty Law Center. A lifelong supporter of the Democratic party, she was particularly pleased with the outcome of the recent Virginia governor's race.
Diane is survived by husband Bryan; brother, Steve Downs ; daughters: Toni Wilcox (John), Jody Brantley (Tony) Danielle Clark (Brian); grandson, Dean Nelson, Jr.; granddaughters: Tessa Derr, Eva Espinozas, Crystal Wilcox, and Leah Small; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Eddie and Elna (Niska) Downs.
Burial was at the Peter and Eva Niska Memorial Cemetery.
Diane (Downs) Derr, formerly of Squaw Lake, died November 23, 2013 after a long struggle with lung cancer and brief hospice stay.
Born in Grand Rapids on April 13, 1941 she grew up in S. Lake and graduated from Blackduck High School as Salutatorian in 1958. Upon graduation Diane joined the Women's Army Corps and after training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama was posted to Ft. Eustis, Virginia where she met Bryan Derr, her husband of 53 years.
Forced by the policies of the time to leave active military service upon marriage and starting a family, Diane served as a federal civil servant in a variety of posts until Bryan's army retirement in 1976, when they moved to Max Township. Diane then worked for the Itasca County Sheriff's Office from 1976-1982. In 1983 they returned to Newport News, Virginia where she worked as a legal secretary and office manager until November of 2012. In her many years in the legal field she was most proud of facilitating adoptions for children leaving the foster care system.
An inveterate traveler, Diane enjoyed planning trips nearly as much as taking them and had reservations for a New York City theater and museum vacation for the new year at the time of her death. She gave generously to a variety of charities but had a special fondness for family shelters at Christmas, development charities like Heifer International and Kiva, and the social justice efforts of the Southern Poverty Law Center. A lifelong supporter of the Democratic party, she was particularly pleased with the outcome of the recent Virginia governor's race.
Diane is survived by husband Bryan; brother, Steve Downs ; daughters: Toni Wilcox (John), Jody Brantley (Tony) Danielle Clark (Brian); grandson, Dean Nelson, Jr.; granddaughters: Tessa Derr, Eva Espinozas, Crystal Wilcox, and Leah Small; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Eddie and Elna (Niska) Downs.
Burial was at the Peter and Eva Niska Memorial Cemetery.
Born in Grand Rapids on April 13, 1941 she grew up in S. Lake and graduated from Blackduck High School as Salutatorian in 1958. Upon graduation Diane joined the Women's Army Corps and after training at Ft. McClellan, Alabama was posted to Ft. Eustis, Virginia where she met Bryan Derr, her husband of 53 years.
Forced by the policies of the time to leave active military service upon marriage and starting a family, Diane served as a federal civil servant in a variety of posts until Bryan's army retirement in 1976, when they moved to Max Township. Diane then worked for the Itasca County Sheriff's Office from 1976-1982. In 1983 they returned to Newport News, Virginia where she worked as a legal secretary and office manager until November of 2012. In her many years in the legal field she was most proud of facilitating adoptions for children leaving the foster care system.
An inveterate traveler, Diane enjoyed planning trips nearly as much as taking them and had reservations for a New York City theater and museum vacation for the new year at the time of her death. She gave generously to a variety of charities but had a special fondness for family shelters at Christmas, development charities like Heifer International and Kiva, and the social justice efforts of the Southern Poverty Law Center. A lifelong supporter of the Democratic party, she was particularly pleased with the outcome of the recent Virginia governor's race.
Diane is survived by husband Bryan; brother, Steve Downs ; daughters: Toni Wilcox (John), Jody Brantley (Tony) Danielle Clark (Brian); grandson, Dean Nelson, Jr.; granddaughters: Tessa Derr, Eva Espinozas, Crystal Wilcox, and Leah Small; and three great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents Eddie and Elna (Niska) Downs.
Burial was at the Peter and Eva Niska Memorial Cemetery.
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