In 2019 the ICWUC has experienced five retirements. This is both happy for the retirees who have worked so hard for our members and deserve long, happy, and healthy retirements, and sad for us in the ICWUC who will miss them and the work they all did for our members. The following is the list of retirees for 2019:

Deonna Matthews came to the ICWUC in April 1998 as an office worker. She has risen to the take on whatever task benefitted the ICWUC membership over the years. She has worked both in the office in Akron and in the field performing various functions. She will be moving to Houston, Texas with her daughter and grandchildren. Deonna retired on July 31, 2019.

Andy Kokiko came to the ICWUC in October 2010 after merging the Textile and Garment Workers Council with the ICWUC and was a very good fit. Andy became an International Representative in Region 3 and serviced local’s in the northeast. Andy will continue to reside with his wife Nikki in Pennsylvania. Andy retired on January 31, 2019.

Dennis Burton was an International Representative that joined the ICWU in January of 1997 and has served in Region 6 in the Midwest. He has been a long-standing employee of the ICWUC and a good friend to all who have worked with him. Dennis will continue to reside in St. Louis, MO. Dennis retired on April 30, 2019.

Ted DeLoach was an International Representative who was assigned to Region 4 and worked from West Virginia to Michigan and all in between. Ted and his wife Ruth are enjoying spending time now between their home in West Virginia and that retirement state of Florida. Ted became an International Representative for the ICWUC in December 1999 and retired on May 31, 2019.

Robert Lowrey came to the ICWUC as an attorney in October 1986 and has worked tirelessly to represent the members of the ICWUC since his hire. Bob has appeared at Reginal Conferences and conventions and has been extremely informative to our membership and a very good instructor and mentor. He has always worked for the betterment of our members and all of the locals of the ICWUC will surely miss him. Bob retired on July 31, 2019 and with his wife Kathy will continue to reside in their home in Stowe, Ohio.

All these former employees have served the ICWUC and its members with loyalty and great honor. They have missed time with their families, lost vacation time, worked holidays, all to better serve our members and our members certainly appreciate their sacrifices. We thank them for their service to our great union and we wish them all the best for long, happy, and well-deserved retirements.