Obituary of Robert Deragowski

Funeral mass for Cortez resident Robert Richard "Bob" Deragowski will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, April 9 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Scott City, Kans. Father Warren Stecklein will officiate. Following the services, Bob will be laid to rest next to his wife at Scott County Cemetery. A rosary is planned for Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Bob was born one of ten children to August and Annette Deragowski on October 18, 1921 in Prairie View, Ark. He passed away at Valley Inn Nursing Home in Mancos on Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the age of 88. After the death of Bob's first wife, Ernestine, Bob moved to the Cortez area. After coming to Cortez he met Bertha Valdez whom he remained with for six years and eight months until her death. He was a dedicated member of the Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. Bob was known as a generous and caring human being, a dedicated husband, and kind and caring to his step family. He greatly enjoyed caring for the yards of people around him and at Christmas time loved playing Santa Claus. Surviving Bob are seven stepchildren, Romelia Ruiz and husband, Alfredo of Mancos, Colo., Sonny Archuleta and wife, Shirley of Cortez, Darlene Alexander of Cortez, Gilbert Archuleta of Cortez, Maxine Lemos and husband, Presiliano of Montrose, Colo., Arlene Rabi and husband, Country of Idaho, and Randy Archuleta of Utah; by two grandchildren, Sonny and Rudy Archuleta as well as by many more; and by his sister, Ruth Alexander of Springfield, Mo.; and his brother, John Deragowski also of Springfield, Mo. Bob was preceded in death by his parents; by his wife, Ernestine Deragowski in 1995; by his companion, Bertha Valdez in 2006; three sisters, Mary Gannaway, Evelyn Harris, and Peggy Tuck; and by four brothers, Father Gene Deragowski, David Deragowski, Bernie Deragowski, and Paul Deragowski.