IRVIN V. DEGGELLER 2/14/26 - 4/8/06 Born February
14, 1926, in
Silverton, Oregon, Irvin's grandparents
traveled west across the Montana Territory in a
covered wagon. Irvin spent the last 46 years
residing in
Stuart, Florida. Serving in the Navy during
W.W.II, he served in the Pacific
Region on the USS San Francisco. Soon after his
service in the Navy, he and brother, Allen, []bought
a Roll-O-Plane Ride and traveled with the
Gooding Amusement Company
Columbus, Ohio. In 1951, Irvin met, and that
fall married Evelyn Leedy. They traveled with
Gooding until 1957, when he purchased a small
Ohio Show partnering with brother Allen and
Ev's father John Leedy, forming Deggeller Amusement
Company. As the company grew, so did the fairs and
celebrations. They played many State Fairs, County
Fairs and Celebrations. He helped to create the
start of several County Fairs and Celebrations. When
the
Carnival was sold, it was documented as the
largest traveling carnival in North America. Irvin
was a past President of the
Miami Showmen's Association, one of the
original founders of the Outdoor Amusement Business
Association, member of the Showmen's League of
America, International Independent Showmen's
Association, and a Kentucky
Colonel. He was a perpetual member of Masonic Lodge
163, a member of the Mahi Shrine and a Jester.
Irvin's charitable trust helped build a 6,800 square
foot addition to the Jesus House of Hope food bank
in 2000. He was also a Director of the Coconut Point
Yacht Club of Stuart, Florida. Irvin was inducted
into the Outdoor Amusement Business Hall of Fame in
February 2005. He was a major investor of real
estate and owned much land in Martin County, the
Florida Keys and
North Carolina. Irvin was a major stockholder
in the start of American Bank of Stuart. He co-owned
Coy & Deggeller Construction Company, Realty One of
Martin County, and IBSCO, a water treatment
facility. The companies developed Sarita Heights,
Stuart, Florida; Jensen Park Estates,
Jensen Beach, Florida. He owned Deggeller
Equipment Company, Deggeller Square, Stuart
Confections, Inc. and in 1990, opened 76 Golf
World,Inc. on Kanner Hwy. in Stuart, featuring a
Golf Course, Driving Range, MiniGolf, Go-Carts,
Batting Cages, Arcade, Club House, Snack Bar and
Party Facilities. He loved to travel with his wife,
Evelyn, around the world and many journeys
throughout North America in their Motorcoach. He
liked to play golf and liked boating on the St.
Lucie River. He is survived by his wife, Evelyn;
sister-inlaw, Barbara (Leedy) & Jim Bullis of Port
St. Lucie; Amelia Deggeller of
Salem, Oregon; brother-in-law Robert Coy of
Jensen Beach; and many nieces and nephews located in
Arizona,
Florida,
Nevada, Ohio,
Oregon,
Virginia and Washington. A Service will be
held at the First United Methodist Church,
1500 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart, Florida at
2:00 p.m. on April 19, 2006. Interment at Fern Hill
Cemetery in the family area.
Donations may be made to: Soroptimist International
of Stuart, Carolyn
Coy Cancer Fund in Memory of Irvin Deggeller, Post
Office Box 2246,
Stuart, Florida 34995.
Published in the TC Palm from 4/13/2006 - 4/18/2006.
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