Derek John Berns was born Sunday, November 4, 1973 in University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor as the first child of Darrel and Debra (Pollock) Berns.

He graduated from high school in 1991 and attended Lansing Community College. He was employed by Erb Lumber Company in Lansing, Michigan.

Derek died at the age of 19 on January 2, 1993 and is buried at the Rath Cemetery in Raisinville Township, Monroe County.