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Recyclers News Press
Page 11
Summer Outing to Honor Founders
John C and Ruth Vander Haag
Des Moines, Iowa—May 30, 2015
In 1939, John C. Vander Haag’s father started
Southside Junkyard in Sanborn, Iowa. It was a great
place for a 7-year-old boy to explore. “I pulled out an
old washing machine engine and thought I would
use it to make a go-cart,” Vander Haag said. But
there were no smooth streets in Sanborn and it did-
n’t work out.
Vander Haag still has the engine though. It is on dis-
play in Vander Haag’s Yesterday’s Memories Muse-
um in Sanborn. The museum fills two buildings as
well as a “reborn” 1932 Phillip’s 66 gas station.
Vander Haag’s business card says he is “Working
my way through retirement.” With his wife, Ruth,
they operate the museum. The buildings overflow
with history as does the Iowa Automotive Recyclers
association when it comes to the Vander Haags.
Vander Haag eventually took over the salvage busi-
ness from his father, and has since passed it on to
his son. While he operated it he switched the salvag-
ing from cars to trucks. Now headquartered in Spen-
cer, Iowa, Vander Haag’s, Inc. has six locations in the
Midwest. Vander Haag's Inc. has been around for
nearly 75 years and they are committed to providing
the best customer service in the industry.
In 1957, after at-
tending the Nation-
al Auto Truck
Wreckers Associa-
tion conference
and seeing the
benefits of belong-
ing to an associa-
tion, Vander Haag
came home with
the idea to start an
Iowa association.
On December 19,
1957 at the Hotel
Fort Des Moines,
John C Vander
Haag started the
Iowa Truck Wreck-
ers Association
. After a rough start Vander Haag re-
grouped the association on March 6, 1965 under his
direct supervision with a trusted group of Board of Di-
rector and with the help of his wife Ruth. A culture
formed that truly set the tone for the future success of
the association. In keeping with the times another
name change was instituted on August 27, 1977 to
the
Iowa Automotive Dismantlers and Recyclers As-
sociation
. On March 4, 1991 the association changed
to the present name
Iowa Automotive Recyclers
,
proving if nothing else we are willing to adapt! The
ability to adapt and a strong network of recyclers is
likely key to the many successes the association has
realized over these past 57 ½ years.
The vision, dedication and service given by John C
and Ruth Vander Haag
have had an enduring
impact on the Iowa Au-
tomotive Recyclers.
That legacy will be hon-
ored this year at the an-
nual Summer Outing.