DeReus, Arie A. – 1861-1949

CUSHMAN, DEREUS, HONNOLD, TRAPP

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 12/3/2021 at 16:04:46

Arie A. DeReus Dies Here This Morning
Rites on Wednesday At Lutheran Church; Retired Mail Carrier
Arie A. DeReus, 88, pioneer Iowa resident and one of the oldest members of the Daily News Three-Quarter Century club, died at 11:10 o’clock this morning at Skiff Memorial Hospital. He had entered the hospital Saturday evening.
Mr. DeReus, who was well-known to older Jasper county residents, had been a member of the Three-Quarter Century club since 1937. In recent years he made his home with his daughter, Mrs. Mattie Trapp, at 917 First Avenue West. Mrs. Trapp served as secretary of the Three-Quarter Century club and Happy Hearts club until her resignation recently after more than 20 years in the business office of The Daily News.
Born near Pella on Aug. 2, 1861, Mr. DeReus was educated in the Marion county schools. Of the 12 children in his father’s family, only four now survive.
He married Clara Cushman on Apr 22, 1888, in a ceremony at Prairie City. Mr. and Mrs. DeReus celebrated their golden wedding anniversary in 1938. Mrs. DeReus preceded her husband in death on May 28, 1941.
After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. DeReus set up housekeeping on a farm near Fairmount, Ia. In 1909, Mr. DeReus became a rural mail carrier for the Newton post office. He served in that position for 21 years, making his last delivery on Sept. 30, 1930, when he was 69 years old.
Although mail carriers ordinarily were retired at 65, two two-year extensions of service were obtained for Mr. DeReus, permitting him to continue in the work. Post office employees presented him with a chair the day of his retirement and he received expressions of congratulations all along the route as he made his final run in a decorated car.
Forty-three years of Mr. DeReus’ life were spent on the farm, and he lived in town 45 years.
He was a member of the First Lutheran church. In addition to the Three-Quarter Century club, he belonged to the Modern Woodmen of America and the R.L.C.A.
Besides his daughter, Mrs. Trapp, he is survived by three other children, Fayette DeReus and Fred DeReus of Rock Island, Ill., and William E. DeReus of Newton. Other survivors include one sister, Mrs. Mae Honnold of Lorimor; three brothers, Peter DeReus of Valeria, Will DeReus of Denver, Col., and Marinus DeReus of Newton; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, one daughter, Grace, who died in infancy and seven brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at two o’clock Wednesday afternoon at the First Lutheran church in Newton. Rev. Fred D. Boldt, pastor, will officiate. Burial will be at the Palo Alto cemetery.
Source: Newton (IA) Daily News; November 21, 1949