DeReus, Harold A. 1921-2003

DEREUS, LEONARD, WHITEHEAD, FINCH, MILLIGAN, KARNS

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 7/28/2015 at 20:53:12

Harold A. DeReus

OWATONNA, Minn. - Harold A. DeReus, 82, of Owatonna, Minn., died Wednesday, Oct. 29, at Infinia in Owatonna.

Funeral services will be held Friday at 3 p.m. At the First Baptist Church in Owatonna with the Rev. Scott Engelhart officiating. Burial will be at Forest Hill Cemetery in Owatonna.

Visitation will be held Thursday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. At the Michaelson Funeral Home and on Friday at First Baptist Church from 2 to 3 p.m. Memorials will be accepted to First Baptist Church or Boy Scouts of America.

The son of Harold Lloyd and Violet DeReus, he was born Oct. 19, 1921, in Jasper County. His mother died when he was 8 days old and he was raised by Charles and Emma Leonard and their Children until age 11 when his father married Ruth Whitehead.

On May 20, 1945, he married Barbara Ann Finch at Pleasantview Methodist Church in Jasper County. He was a 35 year employee of Federated Insurance and an active member of the Boy Scouts of America for 44 years. He held virtually every volunteer position available from the unit level to the district level and the council level of Boy Scouts. He also was awarded the Scouter of the Year Award, Silver Beaver Award, James E. West Fellow and the Good Shepherd Award.

Mr. DeReus was active n the Golden Kiwanis serving as the first chairman, chaplain, delegate to the international convention and the George A. Hixon Fellow Recipient. At First Baptist Church he served as a deacon, trustee, Sunday School teacher, Sunday school Superintendent, moderator, member of the pastoral search committee, chair of the couples club, moderator of the area and a member of the region policy board. In addition to these activities he was active in the United Way, March of Dimes, Clothesline, Meals on Wheels, American Heart Association and the Hospital Auxiliary.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara DeReus of Owatonna; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Carol DeReus; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Virginia and Reno Milligan of Collins and Betty & Don Karns of Mingo; three nieces, two nephews and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, Ruth DeReus and a grandson. ~ The Newton Daily News, Newton, Iowa Thurs 30 Oct 2003.