Robert "Bob" Guthrie Derousse

ROBERT “BOB” GUTHRIE DEROUSSE, 98, of Belleville, Illinois, 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. 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”). At the end of WWII, USS Chenango earned 11 Battle Stars and Bob participated in two of those battles in 1945. Bob was awarded the Asiatic-Pacific Medal with 2 Battle Stars, World War II Victory Medal, the Philippine Liberation Medal and the American Theater Medal. Bob married Lelia Dorothy Heuman on November 23, 1961 at St Boniface Catholic Church in Evansville, Illinois; she survives. 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, V.F.W. Post #2210 in Ste. Genevieve, Missouri, Elks Club #481 in Belleville, Illinois, Moose Lodge #1221 in Belleville/Swansea, Illinois and American Legion Post #1172 in Evansville, Illinois. Survivors: Wife: Lelia DeRousse Belleville, IL Son: Robert (Ellen) DeRousse Belleville, IL Sister: Georgia Junghans St. Louis, MO 2 Grandchildren: Emma DeRousse Robert DeRousse Several Nieces, Nephews, Cousins and Friends Preceded in Death by: Parents and 7 Siblings – Leo Beatte, Ada Pitt, Lorene Kriete, Morris Beatte, Arthur DeRousse, Donald DeRousse and Mae Klein Funeral Mass: 11:00 am, Friday, August 18, 2023 St. Boniface Catholic Church, Evansville, Illinois Officiating: Father Iuvenis Iheme Father Steven Pautler Interment: St. Boniface Catholic Cemetery Evansville, Illinois Visitation: Friday – 9:00 am – 11:00 am St. Boniface Catholic Church, Evansville, Illinois Memorials: American Legion, Evansville, Illinois