Louis McDermott, 103, of Dyersville, Iowa passed away on Monday, June 30, 2025 at Hawkeye Care Center in Dubuque, Iowa.

Visitation for Louis will be held from 8:30 to 10:30 on Monday, July 7, 2025 at the Reiff Funeral Home in Dyersville, Iowa.

A Mass of Christian burial for Louis will be held at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of St. Francis Xavier in Dyersville, Iowa, with Rev. Phillip Agyei presiding.

Louis was born October 27, 1921 in Placid, Iowa, son of William and Julia (Faley) McDermott.  He received his education in the rural country school in Placid and graduated from Epworth High School.  On August 28, 1945 he was united in marriage to Mabel Bradley at St. Patrick’s Church in Epworth, Iowa.  She preceded him in death in January 2011.

He helped his father on the farm during World War II.  He was quite an energetic entrepreneur, at age 16 he started buying farm equipment and doing custom work for other farmers, at 17 he bought a thrashing machine from an area farmer and started doing custom thrashing for all the neighbors around Pleasant Grove.  A year later he took over a creamery route from his father-in-law.  He then sold out and went into a used car business with his brother, Clare in Dubuque.  They were both licensed pilots for some time.  In 1949 Louis purchased the Ford dealership in Dyersville and operated it for 31 years.  He was a big boost for the Dyersville community and he was proud to call Dyersville home.

He was an avid and accomplished golfer.  He golfed until he was 100 and was proud of his hole in one.  He enjoyed cooking and was known for his skills in the kitchen.  He loved to play Euchre and to gamble a bit playing Poker.  He enjoyed traveling, to Lake Havasu City and camping in Colorado with his family in the big blue bus/camper.  He liked to stay busy in the garage working on mowers or just tinkering.

He was a member of St. Francis Xavier Parish in Dyersville, Iowa, a member of the Dyersville Knights of Columbus-Council #1734, and a member of the Dyersville Country Club.

He is survived by his four children, Marie Schuster of Dyersville, Kym (Greg) Hauser of Cedar Rapids, Todd (MaryJo) McDermott of Dubuque, and Tanya (Gene) Schlichte of Dyersville; a daughter-in-law, Sharon McDermott of Marion; 12 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Madonna Bradley of Sebring, FL.

He is also preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Cherry Beth McDermott on Dec. 10, 1949; two sons, Lanz McDermott on May 31, 2010 and Dean McDermott on April 10, 2024; a son-in-law, Mark Schuster; a grandson, Jeffery McDermott; his siblings, Melvin (Loretta) McDermott, Marie (Gene) Carmody, Callista (John) Secker, Hazel (Jim) Woods, Clare (Bertha) McDermott, Bernice (Clifford) Knippel, and Luanus (Dr. Roger) Ott Sr.; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Truman and Rose (Kroeger) Bradley; and three brothers-in-law, Donald Bradley, Kenneth Bradley and Dale Bradley.