Paul K. DeRose

Paul K. DeRose, 93, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, died in his Sun Lakes, Arizona home on Friday, August 9th, 2024 surrounded by the love of his family.

He was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1931 to Frank and Pasqualina Caruso DeRose. Paul attended Moores Park Elementary School, Walter French Junior High School and Eastern High School in Lansing, Michigan. He went on to study Philosophy of Commerce at the University of Notre Dame majoring in Business and Accounting, graduating in 1953. Paul served in the United States Army from January 1954 to January 1956. He returned from the service and worked for the family business, The State Beverage Company, founded by his father, Frank DeRose. He was sought after and hired by the Diocese of Lansing as the Controller of the Diocese for 15 years. Returning to the family business full-time, now DeRose Distributors Incorporated, he served as Executive Vice-President for 15 years before retiring in 1990 when the business was sold.

Throughout the years, Paul was very active in the communities where he lived. He was the Director of the Lansing Ski Club, President of the Greater Lansing Food Bank, and Chairman of the Worker Compensation for the Michigan Beer and Wine Association (MBWWA). He also served on the following committees and boards: Diocese of Lansing Finance Committee; Notre Dame Club of Lansing, Michigan and he received the Lansing Chapter University of Notre Dame Award of the Year in 1992; Italian-American Club of Lansing; Board of National Bank of Detroit-Lansing Division; Parents Council for Saint Mary’s of Notre Dame; Ingham County American Red Cross; Ingham County Board of Health; Sun Lakes Italian-American Club; American-Italian Club of Phoenix; Arizona Opera Board; Board of Sun Lakes Northern Trust Bank; Board of Chandler Hospital Foundation; Finance Committee for Sun Lakes Phase 3, Board of Directors for Sun Lakes Phase 3 and was President of the Board of Directors for one year. He was one of the founding members of the Oakwood Niners Golf League.

Paul was a proud member of the Knights of Columbus for over 72 years, joining while he was at the University of Notre Dame in 1952, and was an Honorary Lifetime Member. His membership included various councils in Michigan and Council #9678 in Sun Lakes, Arizona and was a Fourth Degree Knight. He served as the Financial Secretary of the Third Degree Knights of Columbus and the Controller of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

Paul married Anne M. Spagnuolo of Fowlerville, Michigan on September 15, 1956. Paul and Anne had seven children: Jacqueline, Julie, Joseph, Jeanne, Jane, James and Joan. They lived in Lansing and Okemos, Michigan for 39 years and moved to Sun Lakes, Arizona in 1995. 

Paul was preceded in death by his parents, 3 brothers, Sam (Janet), Michael (Patricia) and Frank Junior and 4 sisters, Mary Campione, Virginia (Charles) Cascarilla, Edith (Angelo) Filice and Jane (Alfred) Spagnuolo. He is survived by his wife, Anne, 5 daughters, Jacqueline DeRose, Julie DeRose, Jeanne (James) Peters, Jane Ellen (Brian) Bamman, Joan (Robert) McKinley and two sons, Joseph (Julie) DeRose and James (Véronik) DeRose and three grandchildren, Dominick Peters, Benjamin (Logen) Peters, Elaina DeRose.

Paul’s loves were God, family, all things Italian, the Opera and travel. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. Paul and Anne were blessed with 68 years together. Paul passed on to his children the importance of faith and giving back to the community. He was a devout Catholic and volunteered for the church in various ways including playing the piano and organ for church services and was a 2:00 AM adorer for Eucharistic Adoration at Saint Casimir Catholic Church in Lansing, Michigan. He was instrumental in raising money to build Saint Martha’s Catholic Church in Okemos, Michigan and served on their Finance Committee. Paul also served as President of St. Steven’s Finance Committee in Sun Lakes, Arizona as well as active in Respect Life causes.

The Visitation and Rosary will be Tuesday, August 13th at Whitney and Murphy Bueler Funeral Home located at 14 West Hulet Drive in Chandler, Arizona from 3:00 – 6:00 PM. Funeral services will be held at St. Steven’s Catholic Church located at 24827 South Dobson Road in Sun Lakes, Arizona on Wednesday, August 14th, 2024 with a Rosary at 9:30 AM and the Funeral Mass at 10:00 AM. Paul will be flown back to Michigan for burial with his family. Look to the Dignity Memorial website for upcoming Michigan details: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/lansing-mi/paul-derose-11935217.

Paul will be flown back to Michigan for burial. The Michigan funeral services will be held at St. Mary’s Cathedral located at 219 Seymour Avenue, Lansing, Michigan on Tuesday, August 27th, 2024 at 10:00 AM and interment will follow at St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery located at 2520 W Willow St, Lansing, Michigan. 

For a Celebration of Life video for Paul, click here: Paul's Celebration of Life

To view Paul's Funeral Mass in Sun Lakes, Arizona at St. Steven's Church, click here: Catholic Website Builder, Church Management, Online Giving & Live Streaming | eCatholic