Published: June 30, 2009 10:12 am      

Derek Beam

May 5, 1976 -June 9, 2009

WEEKI WACHEE, Fla. — Derek Anthony Demetrius, 33, died June 9.

He was born in Anchorage, Alaska and moved 16 years ago to Weeki Wachee.

Professionally, he worked to raise money for the Hernando County, Fla. and Pasco County, Fla., police and firefighters.

He was a parishioner of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Spring Hill, Fla., and an altar boy for St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Goshen, Ind., when he was in grade school attending St. John’s Catholic School.

As a dedicated fisherman since his early youth, he was an avid freshwater angler, but his love of easy-access roadside canal fishing compelled him to spend much of his leisure time saltwater fishing in every spot imaginable from Hernando Beach, Fla., to Holiday, Fla. for the last 16 years.

He is survived by his mother and father, W. Marie Beam and Raymond R. Beam, Weeki Wachee; and his brother, Yuri Beam, Tampa, Fla.

A graveside service will take place Wednesday at 1 p.m. at Oakridge Cemetery, Goshen, Ind. Father Chris Smith of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church will officiate.

Rieth-Rohrer-Ehret Funeral Home, 311 S. Main St., Goshen, Ind., is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to www.rrefh.com.