Andrew G. “Andy” Derr, 54, of Allentown, died peacefully Jan. 31, 2016, surrounded by his family.

He was the husband to Joann (Potera), whom he lovingly adored and shared many adventures with for 32 years.

He loved and cherished his children and enjoyed traveling and sharing new experiences with them.

He lived his life through the joy of family and friends.

Born in Quakertown, he was the son of Walter C. Derr and Catherine E. (Kreider) Derr.

He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University and his Master’s degree from Syracuse.

A respected businessman, he was an engineer and IT architect for IBM for more than 15 years.

After moving to the Lehigh Valley, he was a systems manager at DayTimer.

He served as COO for Trifecta Technologies for more than 14 years and COO of Sarbari for a year.

Turning his passion into a side career, he was owner of Your Next Escape Travel Agency.

He served as strategic advisor to The Social Station and held two U.S. patents.

Having left the workplace for health reasons, he wanted to help others with their journeys through cancer and became a patient advocate for kidney cancer research.

In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by a son, Brian and wife, Melissa; daughter Megan Derr and Matt Barkanic; sister Lynda Zuercher and husband, Mike; Tom Haney; stepmother Karen Derr; stepsister, Laurie Brandis and husband, Brian; stepbrother, Michael Gross and wife, Angie; mother-in-law Ann Potera; brothers- and sisters-in-law; nieces; nephews; loving neighbors and friends; and two granddogs Utley, Maisy.

His family is starting the “Andy Derr Foundation for Kidney Cancer Research.”

Contributions may be mailed to the funeral home, 274 N. Krocks Road, Allentown, PA 18106 or given to his family.

Arrangements made by Stephens Funeral Home Inc., Allentown.