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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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person * CLARK BRIAN J   2. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol AMERUS GROUP CO/IA [AMH] 5. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) _____ Director _____ 10% Owner __X__ Officer (give title below) _____ Other (specify below) EVP, Chief Product Officer (Last) (First) (Middle) 699 WALNUT STREET, SUITE 2000 3. Date of Earliest Transaction (Month/Day/Year) 02/10/2006 (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 02/10/2006 02/10/2006 A   12,000 (1) A $ 0 23,681 D   Common Stock 02/10/2006 02/10/2006 F   2,635.51 D $ 60.3 21,045.49 D   Common Stock 02/10/2006 02/10/2006 D   0.49 D $ 60.3 21,045 D   Common Stock               802.933 I By 401(k) Plan

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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

Employee Stock Option (Right to Buy)

$ 60.3

02/10/2006

02/10/2006

A

22,000

(2)

02/10/2016

Common Stock

22,000

$ 0

22,000

D

Reporting Owners

Reporting Owner Name / Address	Relationships
	Director	10% Owner	Officer	Other
CLARK BRIAN J 699 WALNUT STREET SUITE 2000 DES MOINES, IA 50309			EVP, Chief Product Officer

Signatures

/s/ Jeananne M. Celander, attorney-in-fact for Mr. Clark		02/14/2006
**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)	The shares were awarded on February 10 2006 upon the determination that performance criteria applicable to the performance shares were met. The award is payable in 12,000 shares of unrestricted stock, 8,000 shares of which were issued on February 10, 2006 and 4,000 shares of which will be issued as soon as administratively feasible following the February 2007 Human Resource and Compensation committee meeting.
(2)	Grant of option exempt under Rule 16b-3. The option vests in five equal annual installments beginning on February 10, 2007.

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