Obituary of Derick Rackham Derick Rackham, a warm and charming Englishman, passed into Heaven on December 29, 2023, in Frisco, Tx. He was well known and respected by his family and many friends around the world. Derick battled with Parkinsons Disease for the last 10 years. Few knew the actual depth of his illness because he took on this fight with such dignity and determination. Derick was born May 4, 1939, to Ripps and Ada Rackham in Lakenheath, England. He was the youngest of three children, including his sister Mavis, who passed at 38, and his brother Oscar, now 95 and still living an active life in Middlehall, England. Growing up Derick was a good student and followed his older brother everywhere, often riding on the back of his motorbike. During his early twenties Derick followed in his fathers and grandfathers success by playing football, or soccer, as we call it in the US. Derick was a talented athlete and an excellent football player. He played on teams for Lakenheath and Ipswich. Throughout his entire life Derick was very active and regularly ran five miles a day, exercised on his stationary bike, and played a mean game of racquetball. Unknown to most, while Derick attended college, he also worked on a farm breaking horses. I guess he always had a little cowboy in him, so maybe that is why he loved Texas. Derick started his career in the hotel management industry with executive positions in Great Britain. When he was 29 years old, he moved to the United States with his wife Janet and their two young sons, Steven and Andrew. He took a position with Colonial Hilton Inns of New England where his expertise and professional drive brought him to Jack Tar and Holiday Inn. He then joined Larkin, Inc., the nations largest Holiday Inn Franchise owner. He developed the internal controls and management policies that grew Larkin from ten hotels to over seventy hotels in just ten years. With all his experience and knowledge backing him, Derick got the job of a lifetime. In 1990 he founded Heartland Hotel Corporation and partnered with his best friend, Jim Smith. He met Jim in 1984 when he was told there was a kid in the conference room selling a piece of phone equipment. They quickly became best friends and spent many years playing golf and racquetball, as well as attending family cruises and business trips. Derick loved to tell the story often, of how in all their years of friendship and business, they never had an argument. They were best buddies in life and in business. Heartland Hotels became well known for their ability to retain skilled and experienced hoteliers, which expanded the Heartland Portfolio to the highest level of quality and excellence. There was a great loyalty amongst all management, and they fondly called Derick Boss. At the helm, Derick and Jim brought in their ground guy, Jim Roe. In later years, two of Dericks sons, Steven and Devin, also joined the Heartland Team. Derick and his second wife Terri settled in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and raised their two children, Jennifer and Devin. They were members of the Elmcrest Country Club for over twenty-five years. They both became avid golfers and together won a couples championship. Derick made many good friends and business deals in the club, and he celebrated his 70th birthday party with over 100 guests attending. Derick truly missed the club and his close friends when he relocated to Dallas, Texas. Derick leaves behind a blended family that he loved deeply. He felt they were all great kids and he was very proud of their accomplishments. The family respected and cared for each other and continuously celebrated life events together. He is extremely missed but will always live on in their hearts. The loving family members he left behind are Mary Rackham, his wife, and her two daughters Amy and Leah as well as their children; Sky, Rory, Chloe, Ravyn and Ivan, who all reside in Frisco, Texas. Terri Rackham, his former wife, who resides in Dallas, Texas and their two children. Daughter, Jennifer Rackham, who lives in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Son Devin Rackham, his wife Rebecca, and their son Miles, who live in Grapevine, Texas. Steven Rackham and his wife, Susan who live in Swindon, England. Steves son Steven and his two boys Harvey and Stanley all who live nearby in England. Andrew Rackham and his wife Sharon, who live in Swindon, England and their daughter Charlotte with her husband Liam and their son Albie. Mary and Derick met over fifty years ago at a hotel business meeting and immediately became good friends. They shared the same sense of laughter and honest conversation about life and its many joys and woes. Over the years they stayed in close touch and their lives always brought them together. As fate would have it, they were brought together for one last time and were able to spend the last 15 years of Dericks life together. For as many years as possible they traveled and shared time with family and friends. They loved going to movies and dining out, always searching for the best steak or his beloved fish and chips. They loved Florida and especially Marco Island and Naples. It was the best of times. As the illness took more away from Derick, he and Mary still managed to make the most of their new normal. Mary felt blessed to be able to be there as his partner when life was a bit of a struggle. Derick fought bravely and with dignity. There was still the joy of just being together which they both treasured. So please remember this grand English gentleman who touched the life of so many. He was a true ally and helped so many people in their business and personal needs. Derick was a generous and kind man, who believed in the good of people. He loved and enjoyed life. Any woman who knew Derick will remember him calling her love and how his English accent always got stronger when the ladies were around. Raise a glass to his memory when you have a toddy as he referred to his drinks. When you watch a Steelers game, remember he was a loyal and devoted fan, and despite all the Dallas pressure, never changed to the Cowboys. If you were lucky to be one of Dericks friends, then you loved him, and he knew it. We often referred to him as the King, and he enjoyed that status in our lives. He was also given the nickname Papa D by Marys children who loved him entirely. As a final note from MaryMeasure Dericks life by the size of his heart. It was as big as Texas. As our time together comes to an end, I only wish to thank him for loving me and to say goodbye for the first and last time with our song by Randy Travis, Forever and Ever Amen. I love you always!