FORM 4 Check this box if no longer subject to Section 16. Form 4 or Form 5 obligations may continue. See Instruction 1(b).

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, Section 17(a) of the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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(Print or Type Responses)

1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * BROOKS ROGER K   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AMERUS GROUP CO/IA [AMH] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) __X__ Director _____ 10% Owner _____ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) (Last) (First) (Middle) 699 WALNUT STREET 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 05/04/2006 (Street) DES MOINES, IA 50309 4. If Amendment, Date Original Filed(Month/Day/Year) 6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing(Check Applicable Line) _X_ Form filed by One Reporting Person ___ Form filed by More than One Reporting Person (City) (State) (Zip) Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned

1.Title of Security (Instr. 3) 2. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year) 2A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year) 3. Transaction Code (Instr. 8) 4. Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4 and 5) 5. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 3 and 4) 6. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4) 7. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4) Code V Amount (A) or (D) Price Common Stock 05/04/2006 05/04/2006 S   6,800 D (1) 39,463.69 I Roger K Brooks Revocable Trust Common Stock 05/05/2006 05/05/2006 S   8,200 D (2) 31,263.69 I Roger K Brooks Revocable Trust Common Stock 05/08/2006 05/08/2006 S   11,192 D (3) 20,071.69 I Roger K Brooks Revocable Trust Common Stock               7,159.177 I By 401(k) Plan Common Stock               9,000 I By Spouse Common Stock               5,000 I RKB Partnership, L.P. (4) Common Stock               200 D

Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
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Table II - Derivative Securities Acquired, Disposed of, or Beneficially Owned
(e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)

1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 3)

2. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security

3. Transaction Date (Month/Day/Year)

3A. Deemed Execution Date, if any (Month/Day/Year)

4. Transaction Code (Instr. 8)

5. Number of Derivative Securities Acquired (A) or Disposed of (D) (Instr. 3, 4, and 5)

6. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)

7. Title and Amount of Underlying Securities (Instr. 3 and 4)

8. Price of Derivative Security (Instr. 5)

9. Number of Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned Following Reported Transaction(s) (Instr. 4)

10. Ownership Form of Derivative Security: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 4)

11. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 4)

Code

V

(A)

(D)

Date Exercisable

Expiration Date

Title

Amount or Number of Shares

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
BROOKS ROGER K 699 WALNUT STREET DES MOINES, IA 50309	X

Signatures

/s/ Jeananne M. Celander, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Brooks		05/08/2006
**Signature of Reporting Person		Date

Explanation of Responses:

*	If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 4(b)(v).
**	Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations. See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
(1)	500 shares at $59.66 100 shares at $59.67 500 shares at $59.88 300 shares at $59.89 800 shares at $59.90 900 shares at $59.91 2000 shares at $59.92 700 shares at $59.93 1000 shares at $59.94
(2)	1200 shares at $59.73 1700 shares at $59.78 200 shares at $59.79 5000 shares at $59.80 100 shares at $59.88
(3)	1000 shares at $60.75 5192 shares at $60.78 5000 shares at $60.80
(4)	The reportee is a General Partner of RKB Partnership, L.P. and disclaims beneficial ownership.

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