Robert (Bob) George Derrig, 68, went to be with his Lord and Savior at home on Monday, June 24, 2019. He was born in Illinois on July 13, 1950, the oldest of seven children of George and Vangie Derrig. He grew up in Park Forest, Illinois, also the childhood home of his wife, Lark Dawn Levander and after meeting in college they were married on August 3, 1974. They both graduated in 1975 from the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois with BS and DVM degrees from the College of Veterinary Medicine. During college Bob did research in the Dairy Science department and developed his interest in dairy cattle. They decided to start a veterinary practice and found a perfect town and opened Kewaunee Veterinary Clinic. Bob spent many long days and nights on area dairy farms and raised four children on a 40 acre farm. He is sadly missed by his wife Lark of almost 45 years, sons James (Sarah), Jeff (Mary), and Daniel (Haley), and daughter Becky Vanderstelt(Curt), and their grandchildren Makiyah, Kyrsten, Tavia, Jack, Belle, and Jonah and baby girl due on August 5th and Kendalyn. He is survived by his three brothers Tom (Cyndy), Dan (Carolyn), and Ron and sisters Kathie Gutierrez, Linda Lee, and Nancy Zehrbach (Dave), and many nieces and nephews.
Bob was an active member of Community Congregational Church in Kewaunee and has served as a deacon and trustee for many years and was always ready to help anyone when needed. Bob and Lark were Cub Scout, Webelo and Boy Scout leaders together for over 30 years and he served as Cubmaster for Pack 4126 and the Scoutmaster and Committee Chairman for Troop 1127. He also used his woodworking skills to help the scouts build wooden camp stools, tables and mangers. During these years many young men became Eagle Scouts including his three sons which made him very proud. Camping and canoeing were his favorite pastimes and the scouts and families took many trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota and other lakes and rivers in Wisconsin. He and his canoe partner enjoyed time on the lakes together traveling to Idaho, Canada and Alaska in recent years. Bob’s other pastimes were Dutch oven cooking, model railroading, reading and he enjoyed attending local school sports. He loved to spend time with his grandkids and introduce them to fun in the outdoors. You are missed and were loved so much by your forever friends and family and paddling partner and we will meet again on the heavenly shores.
Our family extends a special thank you to his doctors and staff at Green Bay Oncology, local hospitals and UW Madison for their exceptional care during the past year. No services are scheduled at this time and in lieu of flowers a memorial fund will be established for local youth scholarships.
