Norma J. Derr

Norma J. Derr, 78, of Wood River died Saturday, January 10, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Society in Wood River.

A celebration of Norma's life will be held at 1:30 PM Friday at the First United Methodist Church in Wood River. The Rev. Phil Sloat will officiate.

According to her wishes, Norma's body was cremated. Her family will be receiving friends from 4 to 7 PM Thursday at the Apfel Funeral Home in Grand Island.

Norm Jean Derr was born October 17, 1936, at Alda, Nebraska to John Edward and Minnie Sophie (Nabower) Hayse.

Norma received her primary education in the Wood River Public Schools and went on the attend Wesleyan College in Lincoln, NE.

She married Robert E. Derr on April 9, 1955 at Wood River. The couple made their home in the Prosser / Wood River area. Norma worked at Scheffle Monument until they moved to the farm and she became a stay at home mother after giving birth to her first son.

After all her son's were grown she helped on the farm until 2000 when she retired.

She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Wood River and the Platte Duetsche in Grand Island.

Her hobbies included traveling, playing cards and participating in the Red Hat Society. She especially cherished time spent with her family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include her husband, Robert Derr of Grand Island; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jerry and Kay Derr of Grand Island and Michael and Holly Derr of Harvard; a daughter-in-law, Audrey Derr of Grand Island; a brother and friend, John Hayse and Monte of St. Joseph, MO; and a sister, Mary Reinhardt of Furlong, PA; fifteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents; one son, Roger Allen Derr; one brother, Richard Lee Hayse; and a brother-in-law, John Reinhardt.

Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church of Wood River or to Wood River Fire and Rescue.