Automobile mechanic Vern Woyner honored for 47 years doing work in Lyons
Vern Woyner was presented the Standing Tall Award by Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty in recognition of his 47 many years in town repairing autos.
By Steve Metsch
If you have lived in or around Lyons the previous 47 decades and wanted your auto repaired, there is a fantastic chance you know Vern Woyner.
Woyner, 70, has been repairing vehicles in Lyons considering that 1977.
His longevity of expert service has attained him the greatest award offered by the village.
At the April 16 village board meeting, Lyons Mayor Christopher Getty introduced Woyner with the Standing Tall Award, a picket duplicate of the Lyons h2o tower.
Two days afterwards, when a reporter frequented Vern’s Automobile Services, 8644 W. Ogden Ave., the award was sitting down atop the desk wherever Woyner has published thousands of operate orders.
“I wasn’t expecting it. The very last time I talked with (the mayor) was in his office, inquiring about having a allow for the roof. He reported, ‘Your name was described at the final conference.’ I was, ‘Okay, now what did I do mistaken?’ He explained, ‘No, it is a little something authentic good’.”
Vern’s Vehicle Service has been at its existing spot for 22 many years. He likes the commute as he life on the next ground. Prior to this, his store was across the avenue at 8629 W. Ogden for 5 many years.
Before that, Woyner worked as a mechanic at the previous Amoco provider station at First and Ogden avenues for 20 several years starting up in 1977. A Wendy’s is there now.
Getting a automobile mechanic has appealed to him “since I was a kid.”
“My brother’s a mechanic. My father was a mechanic. I have nephews who ended up mechanics. And I have two sons that are mechanics. It’s a family tree,” he reported.
As an case in point, one particular son, Justin, performs at the shop with Woyner. An additional son, Phil, operates there section time.
“That’s the only issue we understood so we just did it,” Woyner mentioned of his career.
He enjoys the challenge of serving to clients who arrive in with a range of issues: “You do a little something for any person. You figure it out and you make it get the job done.”
The enterprise has transformed. These times, utilised motor oil, tires, metallic and antifreeze are recycled.
“Nothing goes to squander any far more. It is fantastic for the natural environment,” he reported.
He noticed the pandemic slow his business. “But just after that broke open up, we acquired seriously hectic because men and women are trying to keep their cars.”
Pandemic-associated delays in the provide chain have repairs that utilised to get two or 3 days from time to time waiting around a 7 days or two. Some clients struggle with that, but most have an understanding of.
“Getting areas for some of the more mature cars and trucks, specific years it is alright, but late design elements? It is 50/50. We’ve received to order, if it’s not in stock,” he claimed.
“I only stock filters, oil, antifreeze, wipers, batteries, primary stuff. NAPA (Auto Pieces) is right throughout the road. Or I’ll deal with O’Reilly (Car Areas). I’ve bought 5 diverse resources now,” Woyner mentioned.
Soon after Woyner gained his award, the mayor’s brother, Ken Getty Jr., recalled as a college university student staying “obsessed with an Oldsmobile Aurora.”
“I advised Chris this is the car I want. He recommended using the car or truck to Vern. … Vern proceeded to pick apart all the things that had been mistaken, forecast what would go completely wrong, and encouraged me in a stern Vern way to not purchase the automobile,” Getty Jr., claimed.
Woyner smiled at the memory.
“Those things are junks. Actual poor design. Leaking oil. My nephew experienced 1 and I was usually working on it. I informed Ken, ‘No, do not obtain that’,” Woyner explained.
Requested for assistance to motor vehicle customers, Woyner stated: “Stay away from Korean cars. Nissan, as well. They’re bad excellent. I advise Toyota, Honda.
“My daughter has a 1999 Toyota Camry with (extra than) 200,000 miles. Starts every single working day. I’m a GM person. A new truck I acquired very last tumble and a black Impala,” he stated.
At the board meeting, Getty spoke remarkably of Woyner contacting him “dedicated to our group, supporting neighbors.”
“He’s a go-to man. His term is his bond,” Getty reported.
Getty recalled the working day two law enforcement cars required repairs and “of study course, our mechanic was not doing work (that day).”
“We referred to as Vern. He mentioned, ‘I have a motor vehicle on the rack. I’m heading to pull it off. Convey those law enforcement vehicles here now’,” Getty explained. “And I really don’t feel we ever acquired a monthly bill from Vern.”
Randy Holtz previously was a tow truck driver who worked with Woyner.
“He’s been my mechanic for 47 yrs. He’s a very good mechanic for the reason that he’s straightforward and he’s fair. He doesn’t do anything without having an all right.
“And he’s great. Usually, I wouldn’t have caught all over with him for so very long,” Holtz stated.
Getty joked that Woyner must continue to keep fixing autos one more a few a long time so he can strike 50 yrs in Lyons.
“I do not know. I want to do a minor extra traveling, a tiny much more fishing,” explained Woyner, who owns a boat docked downtown and enjoys weekends fishing on Lake Michigan.