Obituary of Derek James Etzcorn

Derek, born November 20, 1953 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, passed away Wednesday, March 22, 2023 after a long hard battle with cancer. He was courageous to the end.

 His parents were Edna Mild Etzcorn and Robert Kenneth Etzcorn. After the death of his father, in 1962, Derek’s mother moved him and his sister, Ellen, to Albuquerque, NM., working as a nurse at the VA Hospital and later at GE plant.

 Derek attended Highland and St. Pius High Schools and received his diploma from St. Pius in 1972. He completed some college at UNM. He was very active in sports and enjoyed basketball, baseball and tennis.

His passion in life was aviation from a young boy. He would spend hours riding his bike around both the airport and Kirtland Air Force Base with his scottie, Soot.

On December 19, 1986, he married his long time girlfriend, Laura Margaret Welshonce in a small ceremony in Albuquerque. They have three children, Robert Kenneth Etzcorn II, Kimberly Marie Etzcorn, Tyler James William Etzcorn.

Through the years, he worked for several major airlines on the ramp and in reservations, including Southwest Airlines for 26 years. He was licensed as an aircraft dispatcher and worked at Kalitta Air in Michigan.

Derek enjoyed a variety of music from the Beach Boys, Def Leppard and George Strait. He was a member of Faith Lutheran Church. His great love was spending time with his two grandchildren, Sophia and Jason Lamb and loved his kitties, Bob and Otis.

Derek is preceded in death by his mother and father, aunts and uncles.
He is survived by his wife, Laura; his children, Robert, Kimberly, and Tyler; his son-in-law, Justin Lamb; his grandchildren, Sophia and Jason; and his sister, Ellen.

Memorial Service will take place on May 19, 2023, at 2:00 PM at Faith Lutheran Church, 10000 Spain NE, Albuquerque, NM.

His final resting place will be in Milan, Michigan.