Derek Phillips, 20, of Peosta, Iowa, collapsed in the heat and suffered a sudden cardiac arrest on Saturday, September 5, 2026, and passed away, surrounded by the family he loved so deeply on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City, Iowa.

A Memorial Mass for Derek will be held on Monday, September 14, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Peosta, Iowa, with Father Mike Schueller presiding.

Derek was born January 17, 2006, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, son of Brian and Sara (Wehling) Phillips. Derek was a 2024 graduate of Western Dubuque High School in Epworth, Iowa.

During his time at Western Dubuque High School, he was an active member of the Bobcat Marching Band, Concert Band, Fusion/Jazz Band, Pep Band, 5th Avenue Show Choir, Chamber Choir, Speech, plays and musicals. He was also a member of the Dubuque Youth Symphony Orchestra and the Tri-State Wind Symphony. While in high school, he was employed at Timberline Golf Course and EIMCO.

Derek was a bright light, an extraordinary talent, and a dedicated leader. As a student studying Business Analytics and Information Systems in the University of Iowa Tippie College of Business and a member of the horn studio in the School of Music, he brought passion, intelligence, and joy to everything he pursued. He served on the executive team for the Intersection A Cappella group, led with pride as the Mellophone Section Leader for the Hawkeye Marching Band, was inducted into the Tippie Business Honor Society for his academic accomplishments, completed a summer internship with Dubuque Screw Products, and marched with the Colts Drum and Bugle Corps this past summer. He poured his whole heart into his music and the people around him. Beyond his academic and musical pursuits, Derek truly cherished time with those he loved, whether traveling, downhill skiing, running with his mom, lifting weights with friends, enjoying vacations with his cousins, or playing card games. He was always up for any outing and embraced every adventure with open arms.

Those left to cherish Derek’s memory are his parents Brian and Sara Phillips of Peosta; two brothers, Kyle and Alex, both at home; paternal grandparents, Dan and Becky (Lahey) Phillips of Peosta; maternal grandparents, James and Doris (Schweer) Wehling of Readlyn; Derek’s aunts and uncles, Mark (Autumn) Phillips of Bondurant, Anna (Jarod) Weepie of Dunkerton, Laura (Marty) Stow of Ft. Collins, CO; cousins, Ethan and Lily Phillips, Morgan and Dalton Weepie, Elijah, Gavin, Owen, and Ella Stow.

He is preceded in death by his two aunts, Kelli and Karen Phillips.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to support the future of the music programs Derek loved so deeply. Contributions in his memory can be directed to the Lou Crist Hawkeye Marching Band Legacy Fund https://bit.ly/loucristlegacyfund or The Colts Drum and Bugle Corps https://colts.org/give

A video tribute, online condolences, and links for memorial contributions may be found at www.reifffuneralhomeinc.com.