Paul W. Derrer

Paul W. Derrer, 84, of Roscoe, IL, passed away from complications of heart disease on June 9, 2024. He fought with all of his strength and stamina. He was born on May 3, 1940 and in 1958 he graduated from Lanark High where he played football and held the nickname of "Pecridge".  In the early 1960’s he came to Rockford and worked for Borg Warner.  Paul met the Withee boys at a Calvary Baptist Revival Night in 1971. The Withee boys brought Paul back to their home in Belvidere, Illinois.

This is where he met the love of his life, Margene Elizabeth Withee.  After several weeks of “visits”, Paul asked Margene to bake two pies for his loved ones that he left behind in Lanark, Illinois. Meanwhile, Paul went back home to let his mother and younger sister know he had met a young woman while visiting his friends in Belvidere. He told them he was having her make some pies and that he was going to call her the “Pie Lady”. They later married on May 27, 1973 in the basement of their home on Evans Drive in Loves Park, due to rain. They shared three happy decades together. Paul was the heart of our house after our mother was taken by the Lord.  We will miss him every day.  He was fun at cookouts and would only use charcoal. Mom would always make him “kill her meat more”.

The family wishes to thank all the clergy that visited on Friday the 7th of June, as well as Angie Swanson and Lydia his case manager.

Paul is survived by his daughter, Mary Jean Derrer; son, Michael Paul Derrer; grandchildren, Paul Isaiah Van Barriger, Jared Wyatt Lamb, Donovan Luke Van Barriger, Chloe Miranda Ann Lamb; and sister, Helen Derrer.  Predeceased by his spouse, Margene Elizabeth Derrer; three sisters; and three brothers.

Just Peace and Love!

Funeral service will be at 11:00am with a visitation from 10:00am until the service on Tuesday, June 18, 2024 in Honquest Family Funeral Home with Crematory-Roscoe Chapel, 11342 Main Street, Roscoe, IL 61073.  Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Seneca, WI.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Paul W. Derrer, please visit our floral store.