Derek Geer
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Kate
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3D Obituary - February 14, 2016
Deputy Derek Geer
November 15, 1975 - February 8, 2016
Deputy Derek Geer, 40, was mortally wounded in the line of duty on Monday, February 8, 2016. A 15 year Mesa County Deputy Sheriff veteran, Derek loved law enforcement and our community. He was perfectly suited to law enforcement, always ready to help both his community and his brothers and sisters in law enforcement, and always relating to people in a down-to-earth, sincere way. Derek was born to David Foster Geer, Jr. and Sandra Lorraine Geer, nee Messing, on November 15, 1975, in Okinawa, Japan, while his father was stationed at Kadena Air Force Base. They were stationed in Phoenix for the next ten years, after which they transferred to Soesterberg, Netherlands. Derek loved the four years they spent in the Netherlands, learning the language and making lifelong friends. The family finished David’s last year of service at Hill Air Force Base in Utah. They eventually found their way back to their hometown of Grand Junction. Derek graduated from Central High School in 1994. He soon enlisted in the Navy and was stationed at Lemoore Naval Air Station. Derek met his wife and best friend, Kate, during the last few months of his service. He was honorably discharged from active duty in October of 1999 and they moved to Grand Junction and married on November 8, 1999. After being married for a year, Derek discovered his passion was to go into law enforcement. He attended the Delta-Montrose Technical College where he graduated from the police academy program in April 2001. He was hired at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office soon after, where he spent his entire 15 year career. Derek and Kate were blessed with their children, Ian and Macey. They were the joy of his life and he was the most devoted of fathers. He lived for his time off with his family and they just enjoyed hanging out together. The family also enjoyed hunting and fishing together. Derek and Kate loved to travel and enjoyed finding great dim sum, sushi and other unique restaurants. Derek was among the most honorable of men and a wonderful, doting and loving husband. He was known for his great smile and sense of humor. You could hear his laugh from across a building. He loved teasing all his friends’ kids and they loved him for it. He was always trying to find ways to help out the local schools or just walk through and visit with the students. Derek is survived by his wife, Kate, and their two children, Ian (13) and Macey (11). He is survived by his parents, David and Sandra Geer. He is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews and nieces. The family would like to thank the community for the overwhelming outpouring of love. Geer up. Love wins. Services will be held at Canyonview Vineyard Church on Monday, February 15, 2016, at 1:00 p.m. A private interment will follow at the Orchard Mesa Veterans Cemetery. If you would like to help the support the Geer family, a local account has been set up at Alpine Bank FBO Derek Geer Memorial Fund or through Go Fund Me www.gofundme.com/3gnysfbg.
