A private gathering will be held at a later date by her immediate family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Freedom House in Princeton, IL. Vandemore Funeral Home – Geneseo Chapel is assisting the family. Please leave condolences for Donna Jean’s family online at www.vandemorefuneralhome.com.
Donna Jean was born on March 22, 1950, in Kewanee, IL, the eldest child of Donovan “Don” Stout and Audrey (Payne) Hodgett. She married Michael J. DeReu on June 2, 1984.
Donna Jean loved her fur babies and always had a number of them; she enjoyed the beach and ocean, gardening, dancing, card club with the ladies, and dinner dates with her husband. She was an excellent cook and was known to provide pies to the pigeon fanciers at the club.
Through most of her life, she was an executive housekeeper and also helped her husband with office work for their decorative concrete business.
Donna Jean is survived by her husband, Mike DeReu of Buda, IL; five children: Michael (Abigail) Stout of Murrieta, CA, Chawntel (Scott) Thompson of Borrego Springs, CA, Danny Thompson, of CA, Charity (Michael) Herz of Murrieta CA, and Jesse (Monique) De Reu of Centralia, WA; mother, Audrey Hodgett; six brothers and sisters, Jeri (Danny) Baker of Prophetstown, Mike (Jodi) Stout of Havana, IL, Terry Stout of Annawan, Bobbe (Pam) Stout of Prophetstown, Francis (Becky) Stout of Annawan, and Michele “Missy” (Dave) Schuur of Cary, IL; fourteen grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Donna Jean was preceded in death by her father, Don Stout; son, Benjamin “Ben” DeReu; and stepfather, Wilbur “Willie” Hodgett.
