Derek Bradley Bridegam

A hardworking, determined, and honorable young man, Derek Bridegam made a significant impact in the world around him. Not one to be idle, he was always doing something and game for anything in the name of fun. Derek was a man of many interests, yet nothing was better than sharing the things he loved with the people he loved. Dedicated to the community he called home throughout his life, Derek lived to serve others in ways both great and small. As his family and friends as well as the local police can attest, Derek loved trucks - especially when it came to revving up his GMC 1500. Taken from his loved ones much too soon, he will be deeply missed while the memories he leaves behind remain a lasting treasure in the hearts and lives of his many friends and loved ones.

The 1980s were a decade to remember. It was the age of technology when camcorders, car phones, and gaming systems were on the cutting edge. With the birth of Microsoft and Apple in the late 70s, the creation of the IBM PC in the 80s changed the way we shopped, paid our bills, and kept in touch with the world around us. It was during this exciting decade that a young couple from Columbia City, Indiana, was pleased to announce the birth of their healthy baby boy. Derek Bradley was one of four children born to his parents, Carl M. and Debbie (Leininger) Bridegam, and he was raised in the family home alongside his brothers, Danny and Jacob, and his sister, Katie. He was a young boy of his generation in many ways as he loved aggravating and wrestling around with his older brother, playing with LEGOS, toy tractors, and trucks, and watching horses as well. Over the years Derek was always very protective of his little sister. He loved being outdoors and especially looked forward to visits to his grandparents farm where he kept his livestock for the 4-H.

Along with his family, Derek was very active in 4-H. He was a 10 year member of 4-H and currently on the Goat Advisory Board as he raised and showed dairy goats, Boer goats, sheep, and hogs for years. The Bridegam family never went away on vacations, but they instead enjoyed their time at the local 4-H Fair in Whitley County. On occasion they traveled to Indianapolis for the Indiana State 4-H to compete.

In junior high Derek was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, but he never allowed it to slow him down much. He tried picking up golf, but he soon found out that it was not thrilling enough for him, which was after he bought the clubs, of course! He enjoyed playing UNO, especially when he beat his grandma, and liked any type of puzzle from boards to brain teasers. Derek was a student at local schools and went on to graduate from Columbia City High School in 2007.

A lifelong resident of his community, Derek was the sort of person whom everyone seemed to know. With a desire to serve, he was very involved in volunteering with the Union Township Fire Department where he was proud to wear #891. After endless amounts of hard work and dedication, Derek became the departments safety officer and was on the board, too. He also worked at Reelcraft.

In his leisure time Derek was always busy with something, usually satiating his spirit of adventure at the same time. One of his greatest passions was his trucks. Derek was very mechanically minded, and he loved the satisfaction of fixing up cars and trucks. He had plans to restore an El Camino that he came across, perhaps because his dad had one. Dereks idea of fixing it up was a bit different, however, as it wasn't going to be according to standard specifications since he wanted to take it out mud bogging. He was proud of restoring his uncles truck after it had been impaled by a deer, and his own Chevy 1500, or Old Blue as he called it, became his favorite truck after he and a coworker fixed it up. Derek also loved his Chevy 2500 HD and was known to rev up its diesel engine as he came and went. Apparently this tradition caught the polices attention a time or two as he was asked to quiet it down. Besides mud bogs, he was into truck and tractor pulling, riding his quad, and attending rodeos. Derek could be seen around town at his favorite places including Pizza Hut, Big Gs, and The Nook. Interestingly, he could also be easily amused by snow globes, lava lights, and Slinkies. Derek attended First Church of God.

All who knew Derek Bridegam would agree that there was no one who met him and left unchanged. He was vibrant, vivacious, and outgoing with just the right amount of fun-loving mixed in. Derek was selfless, devoted to serving others, and filled with a deep commitment to his community. He was an amazing son, brother, grandson, friend, and firefighter, and although he will be deeply missed his family holds fast to the knowledge that he is enjoying perfect peace in his eternal home.

Derek Bradley Bridegam, of Columbia City, IN, died at 11:24 p.m. Monday, December 1, 2014 at Parkview Regional Medical Center, Fort Wayne. Dereks family includes his parents, Carl and Debbie Bridegam of Columbia City; brothers, Danny and Jacob Bridegam; sister, Katie Bridegam all of Columbia City; grandparents, Marvin and Ellen Bridegam and Marlin and Marcia Leininger all of Columbia City; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 5, 2014, from 2-7 p.m. at DeMoney-Grimes, a Life Story Funeral Home, 600 Countryside Drive, Columbia City with a 7 p.m. Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association Memorial Service. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m., Sunday, December 7, 2014, at the funeral home with Pastor Johnny McCallister officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Grove (Compton) Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial can be made in Derek's memory to Riley Children's Foundation, Whitley County 4-H, Union Township Fire Department or First Church of God. The family has requested you attend in casual attire, preferably orange, Carhartts or International Harvester colors.