Donald J. DeRoos

January 31, 1920 - July 25, 2016

Donald J. DeRoos, age 96, of Spring Grove, IL, formerly of Bella Vista, Ark and Council Bluffs, IA, passed away Monday, July 25, 2016 at JourneyCare Hospice Unit in Barrington, IL. His full and wonderful life will be celebrated in three different states; a tribute to his stature in the communities in which he resided. Donald was born in Sioux City, Iowa on January 31, 1920, the son of the late Dave and Floy (York) DeRoos. He was married to Dorothy Meierstein on Aug. 6, 1942, at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C. and she passed away Sept. 12, 2009. He was a member of Highlands Methodist Church in Bella Vista, AR.   He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a Captain during WW II, from 1942 to 1946. After graduating from Iowa State University with a bachelor’s degree in engineering, he was an engineer/plant manager at Hawkeye Steel/Pride of the Farm in Waterloo & Council Bluffs, IA., for 30 years, retiring in 1985. He was a member of the Iowa Grand Lodge of Masons and the Iowa Shriners. He was also a member of the Council bluffs Elks and Moose lodges. Additionally he was a proud member of the St. Patrick’s Society of Engineers. Don enjoyed golf, bridge, woodworking, especially making clocks. Donald is  survived by a large wonderful family: daughter, Donna (Michael) Anderson, of Spring Grove, IL; a son, Doug (Mary) DeRoos, of Lake City, MN; 12 grandchildren: Jason (Lisa) Anderson, Deidre (Chris) Ripka, Morgan (Dustin) Penn, Doug Anderson, Darren DeRoos, Dan DeRoos, Kelly DeRoos, Carrie (Lucio) Leon, Aaron DeRoos, Melissa (Ross) Watkins, Daria (Todd) Dalager and Ryan DeRoos.  and 12 great grandchildren: Keaton Penn, Camryn Penn, Peyton Penn, Jake Anderson, Will Anderson, Luke Anderson, Izzy Ripka, Andy Ripka, Darcy DeRoos, Danielle DeRoos,, Elyse Dalager and Avery Watkins. He was preceded by two sons David and Richard DeRoos, a sister Marian and a brother Willis. A Celebration of Life will be at 4:00 p.m. Saturday September 3, 2016 at the Pavilion in Fish Hatchery Park in Spring Grove with military honors. Inurnment will be in Walnut Hill Cemetery in Council Bluffs, IA at a later date. For information, please call 815 678-7311.