Theodore S. "Ted" Derks

Theodore S. “Ted” Derks, age 89, of Kansas City, MO, passed away on March 7, 2025. All services will be held at Visitation Parish, 5141 Main St., KCMO, on Thursday, March 13, 2025. The Rosary will be prayed at 9am at Visitation following with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10:30am. Burial held at Conception Cemetery, Conception, MO.

Ted was born on October 27, 1935, in Maryville, MO, to his parents Lucian and Marguerite (Brady) Derks. He was one of nine children, having six brothers and two sisters. Ted grew up on the family farm surrounded by work, chores, relatives and the church. Hard work was not foreign to him as he saw his parents diligently work the family’s farm.

He later joined the Army and was stationed at Ft. Bliss in Texas as a radio repairman. He completed his Army career in Germany as part of the Guided Missel Program and went into college at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, MO. “Once a Bearcat, Always a Bearcat” certainly rang true to Ted. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in just three years in 1959 and was an avid fan ever since, road-tripping to numerous football and basketball games to cheer on his beloved team.

Ted also was a fearless entrepreneur. After selling bonds for Zahner, he became a successful commercial realtor as partner for Campbell-Leonard Real Estate. Ted was intelligent, very determined and always a hard worker. The businesses he created and ran included land sales, warehouse sales, land development, residential broker, new home builder, rehabber of homes and businesses, sod farming and a host of other ventures.

Ted met his wife Sharon in 1992, and his favorite phrase was that he “didn’t want to shoot himself in the foot,” so he pursued her relentlessly and the two married in 1994. They purchased a home together on Concord Avenue and lived there for 30 years. They both loved entertaining friends together at their home as well as traveling.

Later in life, Ted enjoyed coffee with his friends at a local coffee shop discussing everything from politics to religion. Throughout his life, he was an avid reader of books sometimes reading 3 to 4 per week as well as staying well informed about politics.

Ted was a dedicated and involved member of numerous groups, including the Knights of Columbus, the Serran Club of Kansas City and Visitation Church. He also was the Chairman of the Support our Seminarians (SOS) events in both 2001 and 2002, which helped raise monies for Conception Abbey.

Ted is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife and mother of their children, Margaret “Peggy” (Derks) Schmidler; siblings Leo Derks, Gerald Derks, Alice Brock, James Derks, and Louis Derks; and his son, Joe Derks. He is survived by and sorely missed by his loving wife, Sharon (Powell) Frazier-Derks; his children and step-children Kathleen Mahoney, Sharon Walker, Amy DiNunzio, Linda Derks, Kim Frazier O’Brien and Brooke Frazier; siblings Ron Derks, Cathy Corral, and Gary Derks; 11 beloved grandchildren; 9 dear great-grandchildren; as well as many nieces, nephews, and dear friends.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests Memorial Contributions in Ted’s honor to: Visitation Parish, 5141 Main St., KCMO, Conception Abbey, 37174 State Highway VV, Conception, MO 64433, or to the NWMSU Athletic Department / Northwest Missouri State University, 800 University Dr., Maryville, MO 64468 – checks payable to: Northwest Foundation Inc. with ATHLETICS in the memo.