Warren De Vries Obituary

Warren L. De Vries, 88, died peacefully on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at Casa de la Luz hospice in Tucson, Arizona. There will be no visitation or funeral service. A private family gathering will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution in his memory to the Alzheimer's Association or Pikes Peak Hospice & Palliative Care.

Warren De Vries was born on May 28, 1925 in Orange City, Iowa. After attending Northwestern Junior College in Orange City, he served as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. Mr. De Vries graduated from Drake University Law School in 1949. He and Evelyn June Smith were married from 1949 until her death in 2001. Warren married Margaret Harriet Stoner in 2003.

Mr. De Vries opened his law practice in Mason City, Iowa in 1950. He specialized in insurance defense, trying hundreds of cases across Iowa for the nearly 40 insurance companies he represented. For most of his career he was a sole practitioner. The Honorable Jon Stuart Scoles joined the firm in 1980; C. Bradley Price joined in 1982. A brilliant trial lawyer, Mr. DeVries was known for his ability to memorize the names of an entire jury panel in minutes, and for his loud plaid attire. He was a member of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers, and the Federation of Insurance Counsel.

An avid golfer and bridge player, Mr. De Vries was a long-time member of the Mason City (IA) Country Club, Garden of the Gods Club (Colorado Springs, Colorado), and the Oro Valley (AZ) Country Club. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Mason City for many years and St. Mark's United Methodist Church in Tucson at the time of his death.

In 2004 Mr. De Vries established a family charitable trust to benefit colleges, schools and nonprofit organizations in perpetuity in and around Orange City, Mason City and Des Moines.

Mr. De Vries was preceded in death by his first wife, June; his parents, Charles J. and Marie (Prins) De Vries of Orange City, Iowa, and his sister, Dorothy (Clarence L.) Ver Steeg of Evanston, Illinois.

He is survived by his wife, Harriet of Oro Valley; sons Klay of St. Paul (wife Nancy, children Lauren (Tom) Hertel and Carly) and Philip of Colorado Springs (wife Anne, children Jennifer and Charles); niece Toby (Lon) Leser of Colorado Springs, and nephews Greg Butler of Colorado Springs and John (Jane) Ver Steeg of Washington, D.C.

Warren lived a full, fulfilling life. He will be greatly missed and fondly remembered by all who were fortunate enough to have known him.