Gerald Joseph Dere
Obituaries
Daily Sentinel page 4D - August 9, 2020
Gerald Joseph Dere died on
April 24, 2020.
He was born on July 16, 1936,
in Grand Valley, CO, a son of
Christopher and Ida (Milner)
Dere. He graduated from Rifle
High School in Rifle, CO, in
1954. He served in the U.S.
Marine Corps with exceptional
duty and honor. He later attended Mesa College and received an
Associate Degree in Applied Science.
Gerald married Catherine Basinger in 1971. Catherine had six
children, Ken, Marty, John, Kelly, Roger, and Kevin. Gerald and
Catherine had two more children, Suzanne and Brian.
He was an avid outdoorsman and enjoyed hunting, fly fishing,
camping, archery, painting, gardening, volunteering at the Catholic
Outreach, and watching his grandchildren play sports. He also
loved spending time with and traveling with the love of his life,
Catherine, prior to her passing on March 7, 2016.
Gerald is preceded in death by his parents, Christopher and
Ida Dere; wife, Catherine Dere; sister, Katheryn Dere; brothers,
Christopher Dere II, Charles Dere, Francis Dere, and Donald
Dere. He is survived brother, David Dere; children, Ken (Stacy)
Basinger, Marty (Marianne) Basinger, John Basinger, Kelly (Ernie)
Uribe, Roger (Rochelle) Basinger, Kevin Basinger, Suzanne (John)
Pyle, and Brian (Jennifer) Dere; grandchildren, Kendi Aubert,
Kyle Basinger, Amanda Hancock, Tyler Basinger, Cody and Jake
Basinger, Lila, Jack and Matthew Dere; great-grandchildren,
Kamryn and Trevor Hochevar, and Austin and Aubrey Basinger,
and numerous nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in
Gerald’s name to the Catholic Outreach Program, 245 S. 1st Street,
Grand Junction, CO 81501.
