Arthur B. DeRousse

Arthur B. DeRousse

Arthur B. DeRousse, May 31, 1919 - Aug. 4, 2016
Arthur B. DeRousse, 97, of Swansea, Ill., born May 31, 1919, in Kaskaskia, Ill., passed away Aug. 4, 2016, at Rosewood Care Center in Swansea, Ill.
He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother and uncle who will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
Arthur worked for a short time at Glen L. Martin Aircraft Co. in Baltimore, prior to starting a career in 1941 with McDonnell Aircraft Co. in St. Louis as the 475th person to be hired by this up-and-coming company.
He served from 1943-1945 in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II as an aerial gunner in a B-24 bomber in the China, Burma, India Theatre.
During his years of service, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, Good Conduct Medal, seven stars for the seven different combat areas, the U.S. Presidential Citation, the Chinese War Memorial Medal and a Heart Medal present by the Chinese Air Force.
Following an honorable discharge from the service, he returned to McDonnell.
After a distinguished career there, which in 1967 became the McDonnell Douglas Aircraft Co., he retired in 1985 as director of operations at the Tulsa, Okla., plant.
He was a life member and former commander of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3944 in Overland, Mo.; past member of the Swansea Chamber of Commerce; past member of the Swansea Lions Club; and charter member of American Legion Post 2007 in Swansea.
While in the Swansea Chamber of Commerce, he served as a strategic member on the Light Rail Committee responsible for successfully getting the light rail into St. Clair County, Ill.
Lovingly known as "Curley," he married Irma Theresa Roth of Ste. Genevieve, Mo., in 1942 who preceded him in death after 33 years of marriage in 1975.
His second wife of 30 years, Olive Webster of Swansea, passed on April 25, 2015.
Also predeceased were his parents, Minnie and Bernard DeRousse; brothers, Leo L. Buatte, James M. Buatte and Donald C. DeRousse; and sisters, Ada A. Pitt and Lorene M. Kriete.

Surviving are his daughters, Jeanne (Charlie) Simpson of St. Charles, MO; Patricia (Mike) Moritz of Boone, NC; June (Kevin) Downer of The Villages, FL; Arlene (Dave) Schwab of Columbia. MO;
grandchildren, Tim J. Vierling and Scott Vierling of St. Charles, MO; Tyler Schwab, Daniel Schwab and Kayla Schwab of Columbia, MO; great-grandchildren, Tim Vierling, Brionna Holman, Jakob and Tayler Wilkerson of St. Charles, MO, and Harper and Brooklyn Schwab of Columbia, MO; brother Robert DeRousse of Belleville, IL; sisters Mae Klein of Perryville, MO and Georgia Junghans of St. Louis, MO;
his step-children Sandra Wold of Leesburg, FL, Lana Kempf of Lakeland, FL, Deanna Hilbert of Swansea, IL, Vernon Webster of Belleville, IL, Craig Webster of Swansea, IL, and numerous
nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests any memorial donations be made to the VFW of their choice.
Condolences may also be expressed online at www.baslerfuneralhome.com
A Rosary Service will be held at Church of Ste. Genevieve on Saturday, August 6, 2016 at 10:00 AM with Rev. Gregory Klump officiating.
Interment will follow at Valle Spring Cemetery, Ste. Genevieve, MO. Military Honors will be performed by VFW Post 2210.