Steve P. Rye
Steve Rye was born September 5, 1952 and grew up in various homes built by his father, a builder, along the banks of Mason City’s Willow Creek. As a small boy in a large family of 9, Steve learned self reliance and independence at a very early age. His first job was delivering the Mason City Globe Gazette’s Route 32, in uptown Mason City in the early 1960’s. Not only delivering the papers but collecting the fees and reconciling the accounts with the circulation manager on a weekly basis. Steve learned responsibility, diligence, resourcefulness, reliability and accountability through this and other jobs that he performed during his school years.
Living with a large family in the 1950’s and 60’s was the perfect opportunity for Steve to learn and understand the importance of fairness and compromise. The process of negotiation and the value of your word were other lessons learned. With a long background in construction and the building trades, the Rye family has been involved with the building of Mason City and North Iowa for 5 generations! The finest homes in Mason City, from the 1890’s to the current date, including the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Stockman House, have been built by the Rye family! Steve’s understanding of the Construction process and the Building Trades are invaluable in his Real Estate practice.
In 1970 Steve graduated from Mason City High School at the age of 17. During high school Steve worked in a local Car Wash, an early Convenience Store/Filling Station and as a parts counterman at the Ford dealership. On cold winter days he started cars for a local Service Station and also washed pots and pans briefly at a local restaurant.
After graduation Steve moved to Marshalltown, Iowa and worked as a factory Optician grinding eye glasses lenses for about a year before the Draft Board expressed an interest in him. In 1971 Steve enlisted in the U. S. Air Force for a 6 year enlistment. After basic training at Lackland AFB, Texas, Steve was stationed in the 6551st Transportation Squadron, Patrick AFB, Florida from 1971 through 1973.
In early 1971 Steve was introduced to Vicky Pederson from Lake Mills, Iowa, by his brother. They were and immediate "item" and were married in Lake Mills, Iowa on September 9, 1972 after a 1.5 year, long and short distance, engagement. The following year Steve was transferred to the 86th Transportation Squadron., Ramstein AFB, West Germany. They made their home at Seiglebach, West Germany, for the next 1.5 years. Living off base was an excellent opportunity to experience a different lifestyle. Steve earned the rank of Sergeant, United Stated Air Force. He worked in Transportation Squadrons as a Motor Pool Mechanic and driver.
In 1975 Steve was released from active duty and served 2 years in the Air Force reserve prior to being honorably discharged in 1977. From mid 1975 until 1977 was spent studying fine art, portrait and commercial photography at Hawkeye Institute Of Technology in Waterloo, Iowa. In 1977 Steve and Vicky purchased a Portrait studio in Charles City, IA, and a second studio located in Mason City, IA in 1981 . Steve and Vicky recorded the important life events of their fellow North Iowans until 1996 when they retired from the photographic studio business in order to pursue Real Estate sales and appraisal more actively.
Steve became alicensed Realtor in 1989 and worked for another realty office for 5.5 years preceding the beginning of Rye Realty, Inc. in 1995. In 1991 Steve became an Iowa Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser. In 1993 he earned his Iowa Real Estate Brokers license. Steve and Vicky have sold and appraised hundreds of properties since then and have become experts in all areas of the practice of real estate.
Steve’s hobbies include: Photography and Picture Framing, Reading, Woodworking, Remodeling homes, Gardening, Landscaping, Traveling, Collecting and Ebaying. Steve loves history and through the internet and email is able to visit with people all over the world. He also enjoys new Movies and older Music.
Steve and Vicky have been married since 1972 and have two daughters, Sara Rye, who is a Realtor with their office, and Rachel Rye, a student. They also have two granddaughters: Kaitlyn, and Adriana "Ranie". Their dog is a lanky brown and white Pointer named Sadie, who looks more like a Goofy. They live in an historic older Georgian Revival home located on a one acre site along the banks of Willow Creek on Mason City’s historic East State Street. Just across the back yard from Steve’s boyhood home.
Contact Steve at srye@ryerealty.net.
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