Willis E. DeRoos

Willis E. DeRoos, 97, a longtime resident of Sioux City, died peacefully and surrounded by his family Saturday, Feb. 9, 2008.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, February 14, 2008, at Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel in Sioux City. Private family graveside services will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be one hour prior to the service Thursday at the funeral home. Condolences may be sent online to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

Willis E. DeRoos was born Oct. 1, 1910, in Hull, Neb., the son of the late David and Floy (York) DeRoos. The family moved to Sioux City in 1915, where he resided until 2005. A 1929 graduate of Central High School and a member of the Phi Sigma Psi social fraternity, he then worked for Martin Bros. as a window trimmer. He then worked at Younkers as a drapery installer until his retirement in 1980.

He served in the U.S. 5th Army, 8th Evacuation Hospital during World War II. He was stationed in North Africa and Italy from 1942 to 1945.

On Sept. 4, 1954, he married his beloved wife, Edna Johnson and they enjoyed 41 years together before her death.

He was a serious jazz enthusiast, avid art collector and an awarded pistol shooter at the Sioux City Gun Club.

He spent the last three years in Denver, Colo., where he was fortunate to spend time with family and be entertained by his four small great-grandchildren.

He is survived by a brother, Donald of Arkansas; a daughter and her husband, Mary Ann (DeRoos) and Dennis Metcalf of Castle Rock, Colo; two granddaughters, Kelly Case of Castle Rock, Colo., and Jennifer and her husband, Dr. Ryan Soden of Highlands Ranch, Colo.; and four great-grandchildren, Anna Claire and Bennett Case and Daniel and Kerry Soden.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Marian; and his loving wife, Edna.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Sioux City Art Center, 225 Nebraska St., Sioux City, IA. 51101.