Dennis “Step” Derringer, 77, of Eddyville, passed away in Knoxville on October 10, 2024.
Dennis Paul Derringer, son of Oce Edgar and Blanche (Wilson) Derringer, was born November 13, 1946, in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Dennis grew up in Knoxville and attended school there. He married Carol Grace, and three sons were born to this union. They later divorced. One of Dennis’ first jobs was with the Beard coal company in Flager, Iowa; he and his brother, Don, worked the coal tipple loading coal for transport. Dennis then worked for a brief time for Vermeer Manufacturing and Pella Corp. In 1978, he began working for Kaiser Corporation; he remained there for 25 years. In 2002, Dennis took a job as a pit truck driver with Doud’s Stone in Ottumwa and worked there until 2012. In his later years, Dennis worked for the City of Eddyville for two years and then the City of Oskaloosa, mowing the bike trail and patching the streets. He also helped farmer friends with their harvests and helped Scott Johannes with carpentry work. Dennis enjoyed the great outdoors: when he was young, he hunted and rode motorcycles. He also enjoyed picnics with friends and family.
Dennis’s family includes his sons, Dominick “Don” Derringer of Knoxville, Paul Derringer of Oskaloosa, and Terry Derringer of Knoxville; eight grandchildren; a sister, Margaret Thomas of Des Moines; a sister-in-law, Elaine Derringer of Pella; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Dennis was preceded in death by two brothers, John and Donald (Elaine) Derringer, and a brother-in-law, Florent Thomas.
Funeral services for Dennis will be held on Monday, October 14, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., at Langkamp Funeral Chapel with Reverend Stuart Hall of Lighthouse Church in New Sharon officiating. Interment will take place in Greenwood Cemetery in Knoxville following the service. Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 13, 2024, at Langkamp Funeral Chapel, with open visitation beginning at noon and family being present to greet friends from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or Care Initiatives Hospice – Albia, Iowa.
