I'm so grateful to have known my Cousin Derek. He was as kind as everyone says he was, and he went out of his way to make me feel accepted no matter my situation in life. He was a sweet cousin and I looked up to him. He made an impact on my life and we are all missing him today. Sending big hugs to my Auntie and Uncle, and family and friends whose lives he touched. 

From Aunt Connie:
I saw Derek enjoy life and be grateful.  

As an infant he did bond with Gramma Lorraine through his own father's serious injury and re-training. At Gramma Lorraine's there were many family reunions.  

He was wanted for modeling when young.  Later he loved pets and Scouts and martial arts.  Plus I remember he had footlong subs at graduation, loved Janet Jackson music, and was a professional server in  fine dining restaurants.  

As a young adult, Derek went to Milwaukee Area Technical College and lived in Milwaukee for a while.  His family always took  me out to eat for birthdays, and had me and my girls for Christmas.

He became excellent in computers, gourmet cooking and investing.  He shoveled snow for many people.  He stayed with Gramma Lorraine for a little while after she was a new widow., and he helped her in her last year.  He also stayed through the sale of his parent's Wisconsin home when they were already gone to Texas. 

He enjoyed his Dallas condo eight yeas and came to his folks after being hit and run over.  He was very optimistic in his suffering and helped and blessed friends, relatives and neighbors as his faith grew.  He gave his heart and his health to God with thanks for time given.  He continued to be generous, respectful, supportive and kind to all.  He is missed. 

I thought of you today
But that is nothing new,
I thought about you yesterday
And days before that too.

I think of you in silence
I often speak your name,
All I have are memories
And your picture in a frame.

Your memory is my keepsake
With which I'll never part,
God has you in His keeping
I have you in my heart.

Derek personified 'Love'...all you had to do to see that was look in to his big, blue eyes (the windows to his amazing soul) and be lost within his expansive smile. Derek cared. He cared for his family by nourishing them with his cooking...he cared for animals by saving them from lessor lives...he cared for friends as he'd do anything in his power to help...and he cared for everyone's soul as he was both a mixture of spirituality and the metaphysical. The memory that will stick with me forever is taking him on a walk to that tiny neighborhood store around the corner,  where I could see the excitement and delight on his face by merely buying him an ice cream cone...I am pretty sure it was strawberry.  Rest in Peace, My  Beautiful Nephew...until we meet again.

I feel privileged to have known Derek for his entire life.  When I think of him, the memory I have is of his smile--it was like his face beamed.  I also remember how he was always so kind to animals, and I think the measure of a person's kindness can be seen by how they treat an animal.  His heart just was KIND.  And he always had time.  If you needed help, he'd just pitch in.  If you needed to talk, he had time to listen.  But my favorite silly memory I have of Derek is that for the last...oh... ten years or so, we played those crazy Facebook games together.  Yeah, we didn't need to talk--we knew the other one was out there because we gamed together.  

The many Christmases we all spent together is what is a gentle memory to me. Laughing and cooking. 
I was speaking to my pastor shortly before Derek died and it occurred to me I think he was the kindest person I ever knew personally. Always a smile even if it was for you and not for him. Giving. Funny and God got a good one.  I know he's secured his place in heaven with his dogs. Judi and Terry the last months were hard and you all did the best you could. I love you. He's fine now.

My ultimate cousin memory is when one New Years Eve we got together and we kids made up a dance to the blazing hot hit song YMCA and performed it for everyone. We were All That, I'm telling ya!

Terri and Judi, I am sorry for everything you have gone through and are going through with Derek's passing. 


Where do I start with knowing my dearest friend Derek,  we met on a  cold fall day, my mom ,sister and myself were putting up a fence at our business, we couldn’t get the machine to go for digging post holes. Derek came by and asked if we needed help. We  could if you could get this thing going for us, it took him two seconds and it was running. What a start of a get friendship.plus he got to tell his parents I know what’s going in the shop down from there house, before anyone know what we were opening. After that meeting he was stoping by when he went by, I felt so safe there knowing Derek could run down the second I needed help. We loved going to chinese restaurants Tokyo was our favorite, but we made a great friend with the owner of chin wa, known as the dragon lady, but the two of us were like family to her.  Derek , Judi and Terry were family, known them for 24 wonderful years. We been threw a lot of great times together. Derek will be deeply missed but never forgotten. TIL we meet again Derek.

Dearest friends.. remember that we love & care about you..may you find comfort in knowing your not alone,, you are surrouded by those who will be here for you,, always. God’ Blessings.. Love Debb & Cindy.

ASPCA

Memorial Service

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents M/M Andrew Hinderliter, paternal grandparents m/m Herbert Christiansen, uncles Andrew Hinderliter II, and Walter Ballard.


He is survived by his parents, aunts Constance Brown, Deborah Ballard, Olga Hinderliter, Sally Donaldson and husband, James, cousins, second cousins, and friends.

AVIS DE DÉCÈS

Derek Lee Christiansen

9 juin 1964 – 24 août 2021

Zoeller Funeral Home

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