Rich Dermer was an avid genealogist who loved the Germans from Russia people and their stories. Rich spent countless hours researching and compiling information on as many of the Germans from Russia families as he could. His efforts included the arduous task of clipping obituaries and pasting them into binders, looking up and copying marriage and probate records, baptismal or christening records, basically anything he could find “on his people” he would copy. At the time of his death, Rich’s work consisted of approximately thirty 3-ring binders of clipped obituaries, binders of compiled genealogies and numerous books and other papers. The “Dermer Project” as we are calling it consists of making a complete inventory of Rich’s entire research collection and then placing that list on our website. We feel the best way for us to honor Rich’s work is to let other Germans from Russia researchers know we have this collection and we are making it available to them for their research. We are certain Rich spent the time working on his project not to just keep it to himself, but to help other researchers with their family history projects as well so we are “paying it forward”. When the Dermer Project is completed you will see the inventoried list on this page.

Below is a copy of Rich Dermer’s obituary as published in the Star-Herald newspaper on Wednesday, July 17, 2013.

Richard Lee Dermer, 59, of Scottsbluff, passed away Monday, July 15, 2013, at Regional West Medical Center.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 18, at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel with Pastor Ed Hunzeker officiating.  Burial will follow at Fairview Cemetery.
Friends may call at Dugan-Kramer Funeral Chapel on Wednesday, July 17, from 1 to 8 p.m.
Memorials can be made in Richard’s name to Regional West Foundation.  Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.dugankramer.com.