David J. Derbis

Born on May 6, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, David was one of five beloved children of Helen Hudak Derbis and John Derbis Jr, who preceded him in death, along with his sister, Donna Bergdahl (David). He is survived by his sister, Diane (Andy) Hornstein; his brothers, Jack (Mary) Derbis and Jim (Colleen) Derbis; and his devoted partner, Linda Peterson, who stood by his side 26 years through the joys, wonder, highs and lows of life. Together, they loved spending time at their lovely home in Lake Nebagamon — their own “Lake Wobegon” — and sitting by the fire watching the world go by. They enjoyed time with their dogs, and cruising the Northland including the shores: snacking, listening to music, and enjoying the simple beauty of everyday life.

David’s legacy lives on through his children: Josh Ranta; Kale Derbis and his spouse, Kendall (and their children Katherine and David); Abra Derbis and her spouse, Ben (and their children Neyawynn, Wylder, Oliver, and Max); and John Derbis and his spouse, Katy (and their children Margot, Sloane, and John). His nine grandchildren were fabulous beacons of joy for David, and he delighted in each of their unique spirits. David believed deeply in celebrating the magic of childhood and the transformative power of art, music, and play.

David was proud of his hitchhiking days with his Martin guitar across the country and California, his time in New Orleans filled with great food, music, and people, and his life in Canada where his time was deeply introspective and stoic—what was as much of a spiritual journey as it was physical.

A fiercely passionate artist, an alumnus of the University of Minnesota and later the University of Minnesota Duluth — “Go Dogs” — David earned his Master of Fine Arts, a testament to his lifelong passion for creativity and expression, inspired heavily by the expressionism movement in painting. His career as a counselor allowed him to touch countless lives with empathy, wisdom, and understanding. His time in Hawaii filled David with the spirit and soul of the land, the sea, the air, and the humanity. David was a poet, a folk musician, a wonderful cook, an orator, and a gifted and talented human who saw life as an opportunity to frolic in the mystic.

When he moved his family to Duluth, MN in 1989, David found his niche in the world on the shores of Lake Superior, nestled close to the hills and stream of Chester Bowl where every winter the family would rent skis and brave the -50 degree windchill temps for “one last run.”

A musician’s musician and an artist to his fiber, Dave carried a business card in the 90s that humbly and powerfully declared him simply as “Artist,” a title he bore proudly — forever seeing beyond the painted veil of the world and remaining deeply connected to humanity through a lens not often captured or revered. Dave painted many houses through his business, fell off his share of ladders, developed an art program for the schools in Duluth, and sought to influence the world through Peace and with Love.

David’s passion for equality resonated through his life, delivering those messages of peace, love, and rolling good times. David lived his life as a true merrymaker and troubadour, embodying the essence of the wandering storyteller, believing this land was made for you and me. In high school, his band the “Innsmen” rocked the sock hop and embodied California dreaming.

His creative soul found expression in melodies, vibrant artwork, and the written word, culminating in his book, “Learning to Fly,” a collection of lyrics and his own turn of phrase from his heroes that wove the tapestry of his life and his legacy through music and art.

Heavily influenced by the “Tao Te Ching” as well as the “Joy of Cooking,” and his own unique philosophy he called “Dude-ism,” David’s outlook on life embraced Eastern philosophies blended with his Orthodox Catholic heritage raised Methodist. He could often be found gazing into the fire, remembering his years in Canada and contemplating the magic of the human condition. His approach was one of fortitude and grace, wit and song, always encouraging us to choose to engage with life’s beautiful potential and never forget to bend over and crack a smile. Passionate in his writings—especially letters—David loved Firesign Theater, The Incredible String Band, John Prine, Townes Van Zandt, Emmylou Harris, and Bob Dylan to name a few, and staunchly agreed with The Kingston Trio that he didn’t give a heck about the greenback dollar, spend it as fast as he can. And in case you were ever worried about David, don’t: you can’t catch him, he’s the gingerbread man.

David will be remembered by many for his warm heart, his capacity for unwavering kindness to all living things, and his ability to inspire those around him to see the world through the lens of beauty, possibility, and pacifism. His life was a testament to the power of art to heal, connect, and transform; the power of music to transcend time, space, and consciousness; and the duality of life and love through Yin and Yang. A strong black dark coffee, a soak in the tub doing the crossword puzzle, a cold beer, and BBQ as medicine.

May the music of David’s life continue to resonate in the hearts of all who knew and loved him. Mr. moon, moon, bright and shiny moon, won’t you please shine down on me.

“May the long time Sun shine upon you, all love surround you, and the pure light within you guide you along the way.”

We love you dad. We love you so much