Walter G. Derjue, 84, of Westmoreland, passed away peacefully on September 29, 2021.
He was born in Providence, RI. on November 29, 1936, to Lisette (Gossler) and Gustav Derjue. He grew up in Warwick, RI. with his two older sisters, Anna and Rita.
He attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Providence, RI. where he met his wife, June (Schmid) Derjue. They were happily married for 60 years. After moving to Westmoreland, they were blessed with four children; Walter Jr. Julie, Wendy, and Janine. Walt was a loving husband and proud father and grandfather.
HIs parents were German immigrants, arriving in the US in the 1920s. They instilled an affinity for farming and gardening that lasted throughout his life. He started working at local farms at a young age to earn money. Upon graduating from Warwick High School, he entered the dairy business, forming Rich-Wal Farm with his brother-in-law, Richard Lawson. In 1960, the partnership purchased a farm on River Road in Westmoreland, NH., and farmed the productive and beautiful land for 27 years. Their registered Holstein cows were highly regarded and sold internationally.
After the partnership ended in 1987, Walt devoted his time to restoring the original brick farmhouse and volunteering his time at Trinity Lutheran Church and town organizations. He used his inventiveness to rebuild and construct numerous projects for his family, church, and neighborhood. He loved to meet new people and could start a conversation with anyone. He had a gift for connecting with animals and appreciated the nature around him, especially the view from his back porch in Westmoreland. In all this time, Walt and June were constant companions who complimented and loved each other very much.
With his sunny disposition and willingness to help, he will be much missed by his family and friends. He is survived by his wife, June Derjue. His children; Walter Derjue Jr. and his wife, Mili of Lisbon, CT. Julie Stack and husband, Rich of Carrollton, TX. and Tampa, FL. Wendy Derjue-Holzer and husband, Matt of Somerville, MA. and Janine Tokarczyk and husband, John of Mebane, NC. Grandchildren; Jillian, Daniel, and Christopher Derjue, Kevin and Colleen Stack, and Alison and Natalie Holzer. A sister, Anna Lawson of Westmoreland, NH. A brother-in-law, Carle Zimmerman of Littleton, CO. A sister-in-law, Nancy Schmid of Williamsville, NY. and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his sister, Rita Zimmerman and brother-in-law, Richard Lawson.
A celebration of life service will be held at 11 am. on Friday, Oct 8, 2021, at Trinity Lutheran Church, Keene, NH. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to:
Trinity Lutheran Church Memorial Fund
100 Maple Avenue, Keene, NH. 03431 or
Cure Alzheimer’s Fund https://curealz.org/
