EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
 
The Board of Directors
AmerUs Life Holdings, Inc.:
 
    We consent to the use of our reports included herein and to the reference to
our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus.
 
                                          KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 
Des Moines, Iowa
January 10, 1997