Contact: Walden Derleth
Telephone: (318) 564-9474
(Sauk City, WI) – April Rose Derleth, President and C.E.O. of Arkham House Publishers, Inc., passed away on Monday, March 21, 2011, at her home in Sauk City, Wisconsin. Derleth’s death was unexpected and an autopsy showed she died of natural causes.
The daughter of renowned Wisconsin author August Derleth, April was born on August 9, 1954. April and her brother, Walden Derleth acquired Arkham House Publisher’s after their father’s passing in 1971. The senior Derleth was a prolific writer who co-founded Arkham House Publishers in 1939 with author Donald Wandrei for the sole purpose of publishing the works of H.P. Lovecraft.
April earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1977. She became majority stockholder, President, and CEO of Arkham House in 1994. She remained in that capacity until her passing. She was known in the community as a naturalist and humanitarian.
April Derleth is survived by her brother, Walden, her children, Damon Derleth and Danielle Jacobs, and her Aunt Hildred Anderson. She is also survived by her mother, Sandra Kiser, Tracy Kiser, Kathryn Kiser Goss, Valerie Kiser Shore, and Margaret Kiser Normoyle.
A private memorial service for friends will be held on Saturday, April 2, 2011. The children have asked that in lieu of flowers that a donation is made to The April Derleth Memorial Fund, % Bank of Prairie du Sac, P.O. Box 130, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin 53578.
Arkham House has temporarily suspended operations and plans to reopen at a date yet to be determined. An announcement will be made and fans of Arkham House can watch for future developments at ArkhamHouse.com .
