Auto mechanic switches gears to older models
Dan Deutmeyer was honored at a retirement party at the Brown Family dealership after 48 years of dedicated employment. From left are Rachel Licursi, Linda and Dan Deutmeyer, and Rebecca and Dave Quick. (Photo by Caroline Rosacker)
By Caroline Rosacker
Dan Deutmeyer of Guttenberg began his career as a vehicle mechanic in 1970 – the year he married his wife, Linda, of 53 years. The couple has four grown and married children, Rebecca (Dave) Quick of Wisconsin, Rachel (Angelo) Licursi of Minnesota, Renee (Filipe) Moreira of Wisconsin, Jeffrey (Pierrette) Deutmeyer, of Florida and nine grandchildren.
How we met
Dan and Linda met while Dan was studying auto mechanics at Hawkeye Technical College in Waterloo. They became acquainted through Linda's girlfriend and Dan's roommate who worked in the same department store. After being introduced, Linda asked Dan what his "real" last name was, because she had never heard of Deutmeyer
"In 1975, the State of Iowa re-did Highway 52 and my wife and I bought an acreage near Luxemberg," Dan noted. "That same year I began working as a mechanic for Dave Brown II at Dave's car dealership which had opened in 1964 on River Park Drive here in Guttenberg. I made $3.00 an hour at that time."
Brief retirement
After 48 years of dedicated, steady employment by Dave and the Brown Family, Dan recently retired – but not for long. A few days after his retirement party from Brown's Sales and Leasing in Guttenberg, he began working part-time for his former boss at Dave Brown Classic Rides, 102 Schiller St., Guttenberg.
On his last day, Dan, who is known for his skills and patience working to diagnose and repair all sorts of vehicle issues, was met by a standing ovation by the entire dealership. Fellow technician and good friend, Rich Davis, told Dan's wife, "Dan was the co-worker of a lifetime. It's going to be tough without him in many ways."
Dan is grateful for the opportunity to work a couple of days a week on the classic cars Brown sells. "They are similar to the cars I first worked on when I became a mechanic in the 70's," said the 73-year-old. "They are a lot less stressful to work on too."
Dan has returned to a familiar neighborhood. "I feel like I have come full circle. Dave's car lot used to be located across the street from here and the dealership and showroom was where Joe's Pizza currently is," he pointed out. "Linda has packed my lunch almost every day I went to work – and still does."
Dan said he will miss all the people he has worked with at Brown's Sales and Leasing. "They were my friends," he shared. "I also met a ton of people from Guttenberg and the surrounding area – real nice folks."
Dan is glad to be using a familiar set of tools on the older model cars. "I have gone back to the old American Standard tools and no longer need to use metric," he told The Press. "As a matter of fact, I went out and bought some new tools to fit the older cars."
Each day can present a new challenge when Dan has to work on an automobile from the 30's and 40's. His wife pointed out that the knees of his blue jeans were dirty during the interview. He laughed, and said, "I have been on my knees praying the car runs when I am done working on it."
Dan enjoys tinkering on his own classic car, a 1964 Pontiac. He restored the interior for the couple's 50th wedding anniversary. "I ordered everything blue like the very first car I had in my teens," he commented.
"It was the car he was driving when we first met!" Linda added.
The ambitious farm boy at heart will continue working as long as he is healthy. "I hope to be able to continue doing what I enjoy for many years to come," he concluded.
