John Derus III, a longtime political and civic-minded Minneapolitan, passed away in his cabin on July 23. Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church was filled to capacity on Aug. 5 with family and friends.
Derus was born March 14, 1940, son of John E. Derus and Josephine Rainville. He is survived by Susan, his wife of 53 years; his children, Paul Payette, Barbara (Chad) Anderson, and John (Jamie). He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters Barbra and Mary Jo and granddaughter Angela.
Derus played football at DeLaSalle High School (Class of 1958) and earned a scholarship to the University of Minnesota. He graduated from St. Cloud State University and studied at the Harvard School of Divinity. As a Peace Corps member, he spent two years as an English teacher in northern India. He worked for U.S. Senator Hubert Humphrey and was elected Minneapolis’ 4th Ward Alderman in 1971, the first DFL member to hold the office.
He served on the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners from 1975 to 1993 and as president of the Minneapolis Aquatennial, the Minnesota 100 Club, and the Association of Minnesota Counties. He served on the boards of the Minnesota Orchestral Association, the Walker Arts Center, the Minneapolis College of Art and Design and DeLaSalle High School.
Derus’ son, John Derus IV, spoke about the hundreds of calls and messages within the first hours following his father’s death, calling Derus “a force of nature, larger than life, a great mentor and friend and simply a legend.” He added that his father believed in “discipline, loyalty and perseverance,along with a lifelong pursuit of sports, poetry, theology, music, philosophy, business, civic review and leadership.” Derus added that his father was a natural athlete.
Son Michael Derus recalled his father’s mottos: Try to be selfless, always forgive and always give more than you get. “Dad, we know you are in heaven,” he added, “and we all love you.”
His cousin Michael Rainville, current 3rd Ward City Council member, called Derus “a true son of Northeast Minneapolis, whose life was shaped by the death of his father, a Minneapolis firefighter, when he was still at DeLaSalle High School. Derus was able to complete his years there after being granted a full academic scholarship. This concept of helping those in need became the foundation of his 24 years in public office.”
Rainville said Derus’ goal of increasing social services to the least fortunate citizens led him to run for the Hennepin County Board. During his 22 years on the County Board, including 14 years as chair, he developed health care, job training and small business programs.
Derus also helped redevelop the Mississippi riverfront. While on the City Council, he was a driving force in supporting the Riverplace and St. Anthony Main residential, office and commercial buildings.
When the St. Paul Archdiocese was going to close and tear down Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Derus and then-Mayor Albert Hofstede convinced the archbishop that the church would become the centerpiece of the renewal of East Hennepin and Main Street.
As Hennepin County Board Chair, Derus refused a demolition permit submitted by the railroad to tear down the Stone Arch Bridge, instead authoring the legislation for the county to purchase the bridge for a nominal sum and repair earlier flood damage.
When the county replaced the old Broadway Avenue Bridge, John convinced his fellow commissioners to save the middle span and float it downriver to become the Merriam Street Bridge, connecting Nicollet Island to Main Street.
“When there were plans to replace the Hennepin Avenue Bridge with a plain, freeway-style bridge,” Rainville noted, “John worked tirelessly to find the funding to build the current landmark suspension bridge. He was that rare politician that understood the balance government should strike between helping those less fortunate, nurturing the business community and growing the city and county.”
Derus also established the Hennepin County Railroad Authority and led the effort to purchase the railroad right-of-way along Hiawatha and Highway 7, now the Green Line light rail transit.
The Derus family asks that interested parties consider contributing to the John Derus DeLaSalle ’58 Memorial Fund and choose Derus’ fund under “area of greatest need.”