Derek James Orr, 41 of Rexburg, Idaho passed away on November 7, 2022, surrounded by his loving family and friends. He was born to Dee Lavell and Cheryl Daley Orr on December 18, 1980, in Rexburg, Idaho.

He graduated from Madison High School in 1999. After graduation, he worked for Dome Technology based in Idaho Falls, working on projects in Michigan, South Carolina, and St. Croix, Virgin Islands, after which he worked in Jackson Hole constructing custom built homes. In August of 2001 he joined the army with a report date of September 18, 2001. Little did he know that the events of 9/11 would shape his entire career. Derek went to basic training as planned, and graduated top of his class in 2002. He then went on to serve in Fort Hood Texas in the 82nd field artillery, 1st Cavalry division. From this point on Derek served in five different duty stations including Schofield Barracks Hawaii, Fort Sill Oklahoma, Fort Rucker Alabama, and Fort Wainwright Alaska.

On October 4, 2002, while stationed at Fort Hood, he married his sweetheart Sarah Van Dinter and welcomed their first son Ethan the following year on August 21, 2003. Soon after the birth of their son, Derek received orders to deploy in Operation Iraqi Freedom 2. He left in March 2004 and served overseas in Baghdad for a 12-month tour. Derek served two more tours overseas serving in Taji, Iraq in December 2007 for 18 months and Kandahar, Afghanistan in 2014 for 6 months.

During his life Derek and Sarah welcomed three more children: Landon Lavell, Aleah Marie, and Brayden James. Derek finished his dream of becoming a pilot when he was accepted into flight school in 2010. Derek spent a year and a half in Fort Rucker, Alabama undergoing W.O.C.C., S.E.R.E, and rotary wing training, he graduated in 2012; again, at the top of his class.

Derek dedicated his life to his country, and his family. He received multiple awards during his service such as: Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Campaign Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with four Campaign Stars, Air Medal, four Army Commendation Medals, two Army Achievement Medals, three Army Good Conduct Medals, N.A.T.O Medal, and the Combat Action Badge. Despite the demands of his military service and deployments he remained a devoted husband and father.

In December of 2015 while stationed at Fort Wainwright, Alaska. Derek was diagnosed with a rare, aggressive cancer that progressed to his brain. Derek was medically retired from the U.S Army in November 2016 after undergoing brain surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. After a year of treatment Derek was in remission. He and his family then moved back to his hometown of Rexburg, Idaho to settle down into civilian life. Sadly, life had other plans for this family; unfortunately, in August 2019 at a routine M.R.I, doctors found that his cancer had returned in his brain and spinal cord. Complications from his cancer caused Derek to fall ill and he died on November 7, 2022, at home with his family.

Derek is survived by his loving wife Sarah Ann Van Dinter Orr, his children, Ethan Michael Orr, Landon Lavell Orr, Aleah Marie Orr, and Brayden James Orr of Rexburg, Idaho. His parents Dee Lavell and Cheryl Daley Orr of Rexburg, Idaho. His brother Benjamin Joseph Orr (Stacy) of Ammon, Idaho, his sisters, Alexis Dawn Van Cott (Nick) of Wellsville, Utah, Larissa Kaye Orr of Burley, Idaho and Colette Michelle Merrill (Sean) of Tooele, Utah, and a sister-in-law Jennifer Lynn Walker of Idaho Falls, Idaho and his mother and father-in-law Michael Garland and Sheryl Ann Van Dinter of Post Falls, Idaho, his sister-in-law Karrie Lee Blakesley (Shane). As well as his nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. Last but most important his devoted dog Charlie.

He was preceded in death by a brother Dustin Lavell Orr, sisters Celina and Charice Orr. His grandparents Merlin Lavell and Madge Orr and Orin Daniels and Margaret Daley.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Archer Chapel, in Rexburg, Idaho at 11:00 a.m. Visitation times for family and friends will be held Friday, November 11, 2022, at Flamm Funeral Home, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. and Saturday, November 12, 2022, at the Archer Chapel from 10:00-10:45 a.m. prior to the service.

SERVICES MAY ALSO BE VIEWED AT: https://my.gather.app/remember/derek-james-orr