Obit: Smith, Derek J #2 (1985 - 2003)

Contact: Linda Mertens
Email: mertens@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 


Surnames: Smith, Drolshagen, Jentzsch, Buksa, Drolshagen, Peterson, Greaser, Nordness, Schaefer, Bartnik, Esselman, Mellenthin, Haynes, Neuman, Bahr, Stock, Wolf


----Source – Helen Johnson’s Scrapbook


Derek J. Smith (15 Sept 1985 - 3 Apr 2003)

Derek J. Smith, 17, Dorchester, died Thursday, April 3, 2003, as the result of a traffic accident.

He was born Sept. 15, 1985, in Marshfield, to David and Jackie (Drolshagen) Smith. At the time of his death, Derek was a junior at Colby High School. Derek was a member of the varsity basketball, baseball and golf teams, as well as the high school bowling league. He enjoyed camping, playing cards and was a Packer fan. During the summer, he worked with his stepfather on a mink ranch.

Derek is survived by his parents, David (Toni) Smith, Dorchester, and Jackie (Brad) Jentzsch, both of Medford; two sisters, Amanda Smith and Breanna Jentzsch, both of Medford; two brothers, Joshua Smith, Dorchester, and Tyler Buksa, Medford; his grandparents, Lawrence and Beverly Smith, Dorchester, and John and Charlotte Drolshagen, Medford; his step-grandparents, Jeff and Susan Peterson, Westboro, and Bruce and Audrey Jentzsch, Medford; and two great-grandfathers, George Greaser, Dorchester, and Adolph Nordness, La Crosse.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents and an uncle, Jerry Smith.

Funeral services were held Monday at St. Louis Catholic Church, Dorchester. Burial was in Dorchester Memorial Cemetery. The Rev. James Schaefer presided. Pallbearers were Seth Bahr, Ryan Stock, Kevin Bartnik, Matt Wolf, Kevin Esselman, Mike Mellenthin, David Haynes and Matt Neuman.