[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 24, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S5263]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                     REMEMBERING JOHN G. DEERY, SR.

 Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I come to the floor today to pay 
tribute to an outstanding businessman and citizen John G. Deery, Sr., 
of Cedar Falls, IA. Mr. Deery passed away recently at the age of 88. He 
leaves behind a close-knit and loving family--his beloved wife, 
Marlene; his two sons, John and Dan, both of Cedar Falls, IA; and a 
host of children and great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
  A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, John was an active parishioner of 
St. Patrick Catholic Church and a respected civic and business leader 
who left his mark throughout Cedar Valley. Following his military 
service--1948/ 1951--and startup ventures in the Quad Cities and 
Wisconsin, John purchased a Buick dealership in the late 1960s in Cedar 
Falls. This Wisconsin native became an Iowa transplant and never looked 
back. From then on, he and his family business paved a road to 
prosperity by winning the business of generations of satisfied 
customers.
  A look back through the rearview mirror shows a life well lived. He 
was a member of the Cedar Falls AMVETS Post 49, Iowa Auto Dealers 
Association, Knights of Columbus, and a founding father of Community 
National Bank.
  The patriarch of the family, John carved out his slice of the 
American dream. After opening the Buick dealership, the business 
eventually grew into a series of enterprises, eventually employing a 
workforce of more than 200 people. For six decades, he owned the Deery 
Automotive Group, encompassing John Deery Motors, Dan Deery Motors, and 
Deery Brothers Collision Center that provided livelihoods for 
generations of local families and a trusted place to buy and repair the 
family car.
  After turning the reins of the automobile business over to the next 
generation, John launched yet another successful enterprise in real 
estate development. An active octogenarian, John didn't let any grass 
grow underneath his feet and continued looking for ways to make his 
community a better place to live. A decade ago, he was nominated for 
the Waterloo Courier's inaugural Eight Over Eighty Award.
  The residents of Cedar Valley have benefited from John and Marlene's 
generous commitment to giving back their time, talent, and treasure. A 
number of nonprofit agencies and community organizations have benefited 
from their philanthropic pursuits, including my alma mater, the 
University of Northern Iowa, the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office, 
the Cedar Falls and Waterloo police departments, St. Patrick Catholic 
Church and School, and El Kahir Shrine.
  Today I pay my respects to this American veteran, successful Iowan, 
and civic leader. John Deery, Sr., steered a steady and honorable 
journey on the road of life and he will be greatly missed by those who 
loved him the most.

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