DeRoos, Charles 1876-1941

DEROOS, MCCLIMON, REITSMA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/15/2022 at 08:01:42

From the Sioux County Index (Hull), February 14, 1941:

Charles DeRoos, Brother of Hull People, Died Sun.

Mr. Charles De Roos, 64 years old, of Sioux City, died on Sunday, February 9th, in a Sioux City hospital. Mr. De Roos, a brother of William De Roos and Mrs. John Hoksbergen Sr., of Hull, suffered a compound skull fracture Saturday evening when his head was crushed between a railroad freight car and the rear of a truck and died without regaining consciousness.

The victim was helping unload reinforcement steel rods for use on the Floyd river project at Sioux City, when the accident occurred. He had stooped between the freight car and the truck to pick up the end of a tow chain when the truck rolled backwards, crushing him against the car.

Mr. Charles De Roos was born on October 16, 1876 in Alton, Iowa, the son of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. De Roos, early Dutch settlers in Sioux County. He moved to Sioux City as a young man and became associated with the Sioux City Specialty company, later, in 1910, becoming an agent for an insurance company. He was married to Margaret Frances McClimon on November 4, 1908. In 1927 the family moved to Lester, Iowa, where Mr. De Roos engaged in the hotel business, later returning to Sioux City where he has since resided.

Surviving him are his widow, a son William, and three daughters, Mrs. Lewis Brewster, Mrs. Russel Lytle and Miss Marguerite, all of Sioux City; also two brothers: Dave of Sioux City and William of Hull, and a sister, Mrs. John Hoksbergen of Hull and seven grandchildren, all Sioux City.

Funeral services were held at 2 o’clock Wednesday afternoon, February 12th in the Morningside Presbyterian Church at Sioux City with Rev. W. R. Moore, pastor, officiating. The body was brought to Hull and short services were held at the chapel in Hope Cemetery, where interment was made.

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From the Sioux City Journal, February 10, 1942:

MAN CRUSHED BY TRUCK DIES
Charles De Roos Hurt When Vehicle Rolls Backward

Charles De Roos, 64, 105 W. 15th street, who suffered a compound skull fracture Saturday evening when his head was crushed between a railroad freight car and the rear of a truck near Leech avenue and S. Chambers street, died Sunday in a hospital without regaining consciousness.

The victim was helping unload re-enforcement steel rods for use on the Floyd river project when the accident occurred. He had stooped between the freight car and the truck to pick up the end of a tow chain when the truck rolled backwards, police investigators said. Mr. De Roos formerly was well known in this territory as an agent for a life insurance company. Before that he was employed by the old Sioux Specialty company here. He was the father of William K. De Roos, a want-ad salesman for The Journal.

Born October 16, 1876, in Alton, Ia., Mr. De Roos was the son of early Dutch settlers in Sioux county. He moved here as a young man and became associated with the specialty company. He marries Margaret Frances McClimon on November 4, 1908.

Mr. De Roos’ connection wiuth the insurance company began in 1910 and continued until 1925. In 1927 he and his family moved to Lester, Ia., where he engaged for a short time in the hotel business. He later returned to Sioux City and had resided here since.

[Survivors same as above.] The body was taken to Samuels funeral home.

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RESEARCH NOTES

An article on the accident in the Sioux City Journal (Feb. 9) gives additional details and says that De Roos was one of a crew of night workers on the Floyd river W.P.A. project

A note on his funeral service in the Sioux City Journal (Feb. 11) includes a photo.

His death certificate (informant Wm. K. De Roos) adds his parents, William J. De Roos and Pearl Reitsma, both born in Holland; died in St. Vincents Hospital, Sioux City at 2 p.m. February 9, 1941.

He does not appear in the Sioux County Cemetery Index. No FindaGrave.com page for him was readily located.

The Woodbury County marriage register for 1908/1909 spells his wife’s surname McClenian.

His World War II draft registration card (Sept. 1918) shows him, age 41, as a resident of Sioux City, an insurance agent for the Prudential Life Insurance Company; medium height, slender build, blue eyes, light brown hair.

The 1910 U.S. census shows Chas. (33) and Mageret (24) De Roos, son William (2/12) and niece Jennie De Roos (13) living in Sioux City, where he is a shipping clerk for the S. C. Specialty Co. In 1920 Charles (43), Margaret (34), son William K. (9) and daughter Janet S. (6) (surname spelled De Rose) are in Sioux City where he is an insurance company agent. In 1930 Charles (53), Margaret (44), and daughters Janet (16), Mina M. (10) and Marguerite (6) are living in Sheldon, Iowa, where he is a commercial traveler, stock feeds. In 1940 Charles (63), Margaret (54), William (30), Mina Mae (20), and Marguerite (16) are in Sioux City, where Charles is a W.P.A. river project laborer, William is a daily paper want ads clerk, and Mina is an office worker.