Julius William DeMaris

Mason City Julius W. DeMaris, 78, of Mason City, died Sunday, July 18, 2010, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM, Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia, with Rev. Jim Stiles officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM 8:00 PM on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with Military honors performed by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association. In Lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Julius W. DeMaris Memorial Fund in care of the family.
Julius William DeMaris was born January 19, 1932, in Dennison, MN, the son of Floyd E. and Mildred O. (Parks) DeMaris. As a child he lived in the Park Rapids, MN area and moved to Mason City in 1948. Julius enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country in the Korean War until his honorable discharge in 1954. He was married to Gloria L. Koch on August 28, 1954, at the First United Methodist Church in Mason City; to this union six children were born. Julius worked for Mason City Brick & Tile for a period of time until going to work for Mitchell County Transport for sixteen years until his retirement in 1986. Julius was very mechanical and enjoyed working on cars, cooking, baking, hunting, and fishing at Clear Lake with his grandsons and friends. He was a past member of the V.F.W., a DAV lifetime member, and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He enjoyed the time he spent with his family, especially his grandchildren and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. Julius had a huge heart and even in failing health always thought and helped others first. Julius is survived by his children, Terry (Nicole) DeMaris of Mason City, Steven DeMaris and wife Rita of Mason City, JoAnn Piska and husband Robert of Mason City, Bonny DeMaris of Mason City, Nancy Whitehurst of Mason City and Judy Janssen (Ron Ristau) of Mason City; many grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brothers, Marvin DeMaris and wife Karen of Mason City, Norman DeMaris and wife Donna of Le Sueur, MN; sisters, Beaulah Andersen of Matton, IL, Betty Brooks of Dallas, TX, Jeanette Hopes and husband Bill of Le Sueur, MN, Eileen Hornaman and husband Ron of Henderson, MN, Rosemary Dickinson of Mason City; many nieces and nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Gloria L. DeMaris in 1997; brother, Arvid (Bud) DeMaris; sister-in-law, Darlene DeMaris; great-grandchildren, Angelica Billick Awe; and son-in-law, Gary Janssen.

Memorials:
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Julius W. DeMaris Memorial Fund in care of the family.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery with Military honors performed by the Mason City Veterans Memorial Association.

Visitation:
Visitation will be from 5:00 PM 8:00 PM on Wednesday, July 21, 2010 at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue.

Service:
Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM, Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the First United Methodist Church, 119 S. Georgia, with Rev. Jim Stiles officiating.