At noon, on Thursday, July 9, 2020, Morrison Chamber of Commerce paid a pleasant visit to Rick’s Auto Body, Inc., 311 E. Linconway, Morrison, IL. Chamber members honored owner Rick Venhuizen with a certificate of appreciation and an insulated beverage cup.
The certificate was presented by Chamber of Commerce Executive Director LeAnn Schaefer. It read, “In appreciation for your efforts in creating the best experience for your customers, Morrison Chamber of Commerce proudly recognizes and congratulates you as the recipient of the Because Nice Matters Award. We sincerely appreciate your hard work and efforts year after year. Thank you for many wonderful years of service!”
The well-deserved accolade was time-sensitive, because on Friday, July 31, Rick’s Auto Body, Inc. will close its doors, after 40 years.
Marshal Longanecker, of Morrison, has worked for Venhuizen 31 of those 40 years. Ironically, it was this longtime helper who determined the date Venhuizen would retire. Longanecker “wanted to end then,” the boss stated.
His business began in 1980. For three years Venhuizen rented a property in the 200 block of W. Main Street, in the area of today’s City Hall and Morrison Fire Department structures. He purchased the lot where Rick’s Auto Body, Inc. stands; later he “bought the lot behind [this] place from Rob Wiersema.” That long rectangular area is visible at the top of the aerial photograph in the business lobby.
“It used to be full in the days when I was doing a lot of towing. I had four guys working over [the years], plus some part-time [employees.]” Venhuizen reduced the number of calls for towing he would accept. “Insurance companies are hard to work with,” he stated.
Wife Sherry “always kept the bookwork and paid the bills.” He thinks she is looking forward to retiring.
On July 31 a Property For Sale banner will be displayed, even though it has been for sale for two years. He said July 31 will be “just another day” as he brings his successful business to a close. When asked what comes next as he retires, he commented, “I have no idea; I haven’t thought about it. I might golf or fish. I have to have an equipment sale, but we can only have 50 people [attend.] I might have Dave Damhoff do an online auction.”
Pictured left-to-right are Halle Schaefer, 8, her mother Leann, owner Venhuizen, Chamber Board member Mark Musselman, Chamber member Stephanie Vavra. Whiteside News-Sentinel Editor Jerry Lindsey took the photograph.
