A funeral mass will be held Friday, August 18, 2023 for 98-year-old Robert “Bob” Guthrie DeRousse of Belleville, Illinois, who passed away at 5:17 pm, Thursday, August 10, 2023 at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, O’Fallon, Illinois.
He was born to the late Bernard E. and Minnie (nee Sneeringer) DeRousse on June 15, 1925 on Kaskaskia Island, Illinois.
Bob married Lelia Dorothy Heuman on November 23, 1961 at St Boniface Catholic Church in Evansville, Illinois; she survives in Belleville, Ill.
He is also survived by a son: Robert (Ellen) DeRousse of Belleville, Ill.; a sister: Georgia Junghans of St. Louis, Mo.; two grandchildren: Emma DeRousse and Robert DeRousse and several nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He was also preceded in death by his siblings: Leo Beatte, Ada Pitt, Lorene Kriete, Morris Beatte, Arthur DeRousse, Donald DeRousse and Mae Klein.
After graduating from high school in 1943, Bob enlisted in the Navy and graduated as Bugler Master 3rd class from boot camp. He joined the crew of the USS Chenango (nicknamed the “Lucky Lady”).
By the end of WWII, USS Chenango had earned 11 Battle Stars and Bob participated in two of those battles in 1945.
Bob was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with two Battle Stars, World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the American Theater Medal.
He had been the senior vice president of the National Stock Yards Bank in East St. Louis, Illinois and then was a chairman of the board at First National Bank in Collinsville, Illinois until his retirement.
He was a member of St. Augustine of Canterbury Church in Belleville, Illinois; Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 2210 in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; Elks Lodge No. 481 in Belleville, Illinois; Moose Lodge No. 1221 in Belleville/Swansea, Illinois; and American Legion Post No. 1172 in Evansville, Illinois.
Visitation will be 9-11 a.m. Friday at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Evansville, Illinois.
A funeral mass for for 98-year-old Robert “Bob” Guthrie DeRousse of Belleville, Ill. will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 18, 2023 at the St. Boniface Catholic Church in Evansville, Ill. Officiating: Father Iuvenis Iheme and Father Steven Pautler.
Interment will be in the St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery, Evansville, Illinois.
Memorials may be made to the American Legion, Evansville, Illinois.