James “Jim” Derner, age 82 of Sac City, IA, passed away on Monday, March 2, 2020, at MercyOne Siouxland Medical Center in Sioux City, IA. James Henry Derner was born on December 9, 1937, to parents Arthur and Marguerite (Grote) Derner in Carroll, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breda, IA.
Jim grew up in Breda with his family and attended St. Bernard Elementary School and later graduated from St. Bernard High School with the Class of 1955. After graduating, he helped his brother-in-law farm near Breda and then attended Northwest Institute in Minnesota for one year from which he obtained his Lab Technician Degree. After college, Jim moved to Oelwein, IA, and worked for Mercy Hospital.
On August 8, 1959, Jim married the love of his life, Mariella “Lollie” Ann Loew, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Maple River, IA. They moved to Sac City where they started their family and were blessed with five children: Geri, Greg, Scott, Gina, and Chris. Jim worked for Loring Hospital as a Lab Manager, and was able to continue his farming experience by running an acreage south of town tending to livestock.
In 1981, the family moved to Sioux City as Jim took a position as a Regional Representative for World Book. He was very successful, received several awards, and even had the esteemed privilege of sitting with Sir Edmund Hilary at an award dinner. He later began working in the medical rehab field with American Home Health Care and ultimately retired from this field at Mercy One Hospital. They remained in Sioux City until 2011, and then moved back to Sac City.
Jim was a very giving person, always giving of his time to the church and various clubs and organizations. When he resided in Sioux City, he served on the Siouxland Committee for the Handicapped and received a Governor’s Award for his volunteer work there. Over the years, Jim served as an EME at church, was an usher, lector, and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. Jim was also a member of the Sac City Volunteer Fire Dept. for over 19 years, and on his return to the area was given a position as an honorary member of the department.
Jim was always very active and found himself enjoying many hobbies throughout his lifetime including gardening, fishing, and doing any kind of mechanical work. He was an avid Minnesota Twins fan, and enjoyed watching football and racing on the weekends. Card playing was something Jim and Lollie enjoyed doing together, especially euchre, which they took part in almost every other night of the week. While the two of them weren’t huge travelers, they did their fair share in the States and even a little abroad, and enjoyed an annual trip in the fall to Branson, MO in recent years.
Jim was a guy that could be counted on for so many things. He was a very kind, caring, and loving husband, father, and grandfather. Getting to see and spend time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren was always very special to him. Jim had many friends and even had a ‘special’ group of friends that met on a regular basis, each of them taking turns picking up the tab. He always looked forward to those outings. He was a faithful servant of the Lord and made sure his family knew that he indeed knew where his eternal home was. This brought a certain comfort to Lollie and to every one of his children. Just knowing that although their husband/father is now absent from his earthly body, he will be forever present with the Lord in heaven.
He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife, Mariella “Lollie” Derner of Sac City, IA; children: Geri Derner of Ames, IA, Greg Derner and his wife Jeanette of Shiloh, IL, Scott Derner and his wife Elizabeth of Sioux City, IA, Gina Hults and her husband Jason of Villisca, IA, and Chris Derner and his wife Jill of Waconia, MN; 16 grandchildren; 4 great-grandchildren; siblings: Mae Knobbe of Carroll, Eileen Bruning of Garden Grove, CA, Eugene and Vera Derner of Dedham, IA, Ione Schloegel of Rochester, MN, Annette Ratigan of Bancroft, IA, and Don and Peg Derner of Lake View, IA; in-laws: Larry and Mary Jane Loew of Maple River, IA, Steve and Deb Loew of Des Moines, IA, Bob and Aggie Snyder of Des Moines, IA, Katie Hoffman of Carroll, IA, and Marie Loew of Maple River, IA; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Marguerite Derner; parents-in-law Steve and Florence Loew; granddaughter Samantha Derner; siblings: Zeta and Ray Glass, Alma Derner, Colett and Bob Meyers, Bill Derner, and his in-laws: Glen Bruning, Frank Schloegel, Bob Ratigan, Mark Knobbe, Ethelmae and Harold Davis, Merlin Loew, Marian and Roland Daniel, Clancy Loew, Denny and Janice Loew, Suzie Loew, and Joseph Loew.
In lieu of flowers memorials can be directed to: Knights of Columbus Rosary Foundation PO Box 51 Carroll, IA 51401
Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2020, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sac City, IA, with Father Joe Dillinger and Deacon Butch Stone officiating. Burial will take place at St. Francis Cemetery in Maple River, IA, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday under the direction of Farber & Otteman Funeral Home of Sac City. Visitation will be held from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at Farber & Otteman Funeral Home in Sac City with Rosary starting at 5:00 p.m. and Vigil Service at 7:00 p.m.
