Doug and Deb VerMeer named Montezuma's ‘Let Freedom Ring’ Grand Marshals

     Doug and Deb VerMeer, owners of Vannoy Chevrolet in Montezuma, are the 2023 Montezuma “Let Freedom Ring” Celebration Grand Marshals. The couple will headline the parade that gets underway at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 1. The couple loves Montezuma and they stay active in making the town a better place to live.

By J.O. Parker
 
      Doug and Deb VerMeer are diehard Montezuma fans.
      They love the Montezuma community and stay active in making it a better place to live. They also own and operate Vannoy Chevrolet.
    Doug helps keep the town square looking good by watering the plants on summer days. Deb serves as treasurer of the Montezuma Community Boosters and the Montezuma Food Pantry. She’s also involved in the Mothers Club and PEO.
      Doug is a long-time member of the Lions Club, a deacon at the First Presbyterian Evangelical Church and is a past chairman and long-time board member of the Montezuma Utility Board. And like Deb, he’s active in the Montezuma Community Boosters and the couple has been active in supporting the school in many ways through the years.
     And in past years, Doug has carried the grand marshal(s) in a convertible on the Fourth of July “Let Freedom Ring” parade route. When asked how many years he’s helped out, Doug said he didn’t know, but that he is available if needed.
      The tables are turning this year for the couple as they are being the ones honored as the 2023 Montezuma “Let Freedom Ring” Celebration Grand Marshals.
       They will headline the parade that gets underway on Saturday, July 1 at 10 a.m.
       When asked about the honor, Deb said she and Doug enjoy helping Montezuma celebrate.
      “It’s what we do,” said Deb.
     “Montezuma is a great place to raise your children,” said Doug. “We have an excellent school system and we have manufacturing. We are more diverse than most communities our size. We have a lot of good things going on.”
     Doug and Deb grew up and attended school in Pella. Deb attended Pella Christian while Doug attended Pella High School across town.
     The couple met on the Pella Square while cruising with their friends around town on a Friday night. They will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Oct. 12.
     They have three children and six grandchildren – Nicole; Brant and his wife, Amy, and their four children; and Matt and his wife, Amanda, and their two children.
     Nicole works at Capstone in Grinnell; Brant is the general manager of Vannoy Chevrolet; and Matt lives in North Carolina and works for Stewart Haas Racing.
   When asked what brought them to Montezuma, Deb said that Doug was wanting to own a Chevrolet dealership and the now late Waldo Vannoy gave him a chance.
      They joined Waldo as part-owners in August 1981 and purchased the dealership outright in the summer of 1994.
    The full-service dealership employees 14 people including Doug and Deb, service techs, salesmen and office staff.
     The local dealership serves a large area in and around Montezuma and many customers have remained loyal through the years along with many long-time employees with 20-, 30- and more years.
      When asked what keeps customers coming back, Doug said, “The service after the sale.”
      “We live in the community and support it,” added Doug.
      “We are all pro Montezuma,” the couple said.