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Sixty-five years of pounding nails
For MVM News Network
MONTROSE - Bob Vermazen, of rural Montrose, was recently honored by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 1260 of Southeast Iowa, for 65 years of service.
The union honors members with a pin for every five years of membership. Out of approximately 600 members, Vermazen was the only one to receive a 65-year pin.
The award was presented in Iowa City on Saturday evening. To get there, Vermazen and his son, Jim, drove through rain, ice and snow, and past downed power lines and poles.
When asked if the drive was worth it, he replied, “Oh, yes! They even gave me a standing ovation!”
Vermazen will be 90 years old next October, but hasn't had to pay union dues since turning 65, as a lifetime member.
He also let it be known that even though the award was for 65 years, he has actually been a carpenter for 66 years and four months. One wonders just how many nails he has pounded in that period of time.
Vermazen was one of five children born to Lou and Jennie Vermazen. Even while in high school, he began helping his dad on carpenter jobs during summer vacations. He always enjoyed carpenter work, but also was hooked on farming, as was his dad.
During Vermazen's youth, his dad was a carpenter for the railroad and traveled throughout the West building stations and depots.
After graduating from Montrose High School in 1936, Vermazen began working at the carpenter trade in earnest. One early job he and his dad tackled was the building of a corncrib on the farm where Mary Sue Chatfield now lives, previously owned by her grandparents. He also enclosed the front porch of the house.
Vermazen married Ila Mae Kite in April 1940. They are the parents of four children, two boys and two girls. Their extended family now numbers 17 grandchildren and 21 great- grandchildren.
In 1956, Vermazen built the house, along with the barn and other outbuildings, on the farm where he and Ila Mae raised their family.
Their son, Jim, and his wife now live in that house and do the farming, with Bob and Ila Mae living independently in their own home just a short ways down the road. Construction has begun on an “apartment” in a building near Jim, so they can be closer to family.
Serving in the Navy from 1944 through 1946 interrupted Vermazen's career for a time. He was discharged the day before the atom bomb was dropped on Japan.
In 1947, Vermazen worked for Cameron Joyce constructing the power house at the Electro Metals plant in Keokuk. This job was interrupted for a time because of a flood. They dammed and sand bagged the intake, but that didn't stop the water from coming in. The outside walls were up and they were working on the floors at the time. After the water was pumped out, work was resumed. At this time, he was working for the sum of 60 cents per hour.
When that job was completed, Vermazen worked through a Chicago contractor at Swift & Company in 1948. They worked on rebuilding the back end of that plant. Another two years was spent working construction at the Ordnance Plant at Middletown. A total of 13 years was then spent working for Best & Company. Vermazen said he is proud of the fact he was both the first and the last local carpenter to work on building Central Lee High School. This is the same high school some of his children and grandchildren attended. Before long, some of his great- grandchildren will be there, too.
After retirement in 1981, Vermazen helped local contractor Joe Bergman as needed. In addition to a lifetime of working as a carpenter, he also maintained his farm.
Besides planting and harvesting the crops, Vermazen milked cows until 1980. Sheep were also raised, but Jim has now taken over that job.
Vermazen has kept busy in his retirement. In the early 1990s, he became a Master Gardener. In addition to a vegetable garden, he raises many flowers. Besides the personal enjoyment he receives from this, he is generous in sharing his blooms with residents of the local nursing home.
Many of his bouquets are seen brightening the tables of Montrose restaurants.
There also are the chickens to tend to and the eggs to gather. He takes pleasure in sharing those eggs with his friends and neighbors.
While visiting at the local coffee shop most mornings, Vermazen enjoys talking about local history and bygone days in Montrose. He can usually come up with a newspaper clipping about most any subject and he has taken many photos of the old buildings in town, plus the new ones that have been built to take their place.
He is a member of Montrose Riverfront, Inc. and takes an active part in the planting of trees, spring bulbs and flowers with that group.
Vermazen noted that except for his time in the Navy, he has always lived within a mile of his old home place. That doesn't seem to have cramped his style, and it doesn't bother the residents of Montrose either, Chatfield said. They enjoy visiting with him, seeing his flowers, and talking with him about not only the old times, but also his active interest in the new and progressive things going on in Montrose.
MONTROSE - Bob Vermazen, of rural Montrose, was recently honored by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 1260 of Southeast Iowa, for 65 years of service.
The union honors members with a pin for every five years of membership. Out of approximately 600 members, Vermazen was the only one to receive a 65-year pin.
The award was presented in Iowa City on Saturday evening. To get there, Vermazen and his son, Jim, drove through rain, ice and snow, and past downed power lines and poles.
When asked if the drive was worth it, he replied, “Oh, yes! They even gave me a standing ovation!”
Vermazen will be 90 years old next October, but hasn't had to pay union dues since turning 65, as a lifetime member.
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Vermazen was one of five children born to Lou and Jennie Vermazen. Even while in high school, he began helping his dad on carpenter jobs during summer vacations. He always enjoyed carpenter work, but also was hooked on farming, as was his dad.
During Vermazen's youth, his dad was a carpenter for the railroad and traveled throughout the West building stations and depots.
After graduating from Montrose High School in 1936, Vermazen began working at the carpenter trade in earnest. One early job he and his dad tackled was the building of a corncrib on the farm where Mary Sue Chatfield now lives, previously owned by her grandparents. He also enclosed the front porch of the house.
Vermazen married Ila Mae Kite in April 1940. They are the parents of four children, two boys and two girls. Their extended family now numbers 17 grandchildren and 21 great- grandchildren.
In 1956, Vermazen built the house, along with the barn and other outbuildings, on the farm where he and Ila Mae raised their family.
Their son, Jim, and his wife now live in that house and do the farming, with Bob and Ila Mae living independently in their own home just a short ways down the road. Construction has begun on an “apartment” in a building near Jim, so they can be closer to family.
Serving in the Navy from 1944 through 1946 interrupted Vermazen's career for a time. He was discharged the day before the atom bomb was dropped on Japan.
In 1947, Vermazen worked for Cameron Joyce constructing the power house at the Electro Metals plant in Keokuk. This job was interrupted for a time because of a flood. They dammed and sand bagged the intake, but that didn't stop the water from coming in. The outside walls were up and they were working on the floors at the time. After the water was pumped out, work was resumed. At this time, he was working for the sum of 60 cents per hour.
When that job was completed, Vermazen worked through a Chicago contractor at Swift & Company in 1948. They worked on rebuilding the back end of that plant. Another two years was spent working construction at the Ordnance Plant at Middletown. A total of 13 years was then spent working for Best & Company. Vermazen said he is proud of the fact he was both the first and the last local carpenter to work on building Central Lee High School. This is the same high school some of his children and grandchildren attended. Before long, some of his great- grandchildren will be there, too.
After retirement in 1981, Vermazen helped local contractor Joe Bergman as needed. In addition to a lifetime of working as a carpenter, he also maintained his farm.
Besides planting and harvesting the crops, Vermazen milked cows until 1980. Sheep were also raised, but Jim has now taken over that job.
Vermazen has kept busy in his retirement. In the early 1990s, he became a Master Gardener. In addition to a vegetable garden, he raises many flowers. Besides the personal enjoyment he receives from this, he is generous in sharing his blooms with residents of the local nursing home.
Many of his bouquets are seen brightening the tables of Montrose restaurants.
There also are the chickens to tend to and the eggs to gather. He takes pleasure in sharing those eggs with his friends and neighbors.
While visiting at the local coffee shop most mornings, Vermazen enjoys talking about local history and bygone days in Montrose. He can usually come up with a newspaper clipping about most any subject and he has taken many photos of the old buildings in town, plus the new ones that have been built to take their place.
He is a member of Montrose Riverfront, Inc. and takes an active part in the planting of trees, spring bulbs and flowers with that group.
Vermazen noted that except for his time in the Navy, he has always lived within a mile of his old home place. That doesn't seem to have cramped his style, and it doesn't bother the residents of Montrose either, Chatfield said. They enjoy visiting with him, seeing his flowers, and talking with him about not only the old times, but also his active interest in the new and progressive things going on in Montrose.
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