Dale’s Legacy Body Shop
is hereby recognized as a
TOP GUN Professional Business!
Derek Amundson, you are considered a champion business owner for building and managing Dale’s Body Shop, a auto body shop company in Forest City County.
Small businesses are the backbone of the United States economy.
The owners of these small businesses are entrepreneurs who take on significant financial and operational risks, create employment opportunities, and bring creativity and ingenuity to their communities. Their success is often built not only on hard work, but on perseverance, family support, and the passing down of knowledge from one generation to the next.
Our research team at Expansion Support Services, owners of the County Advisory Board, identified Dale’s Legacy Body Shop as a business that has long been appreciated by its customers and has provided valuable services to the community.
Dale’s Legacy Body Shop is more than just a business—it is a story of family, mentorship, and generational continuity. The shop was originally founded in the 1960s by Derek Amundson’s great-uncle. In 1979, Derek’s grandfather purchased the business and renamed it from Jerry’s to Dale’s Body Shop. In 1999, Derek’s mother, Kendra Amundson, took ownership, continuing the legacy with the same dedication and pride instilled in her from a young age.
Kendra grew up in the shop alongside her sister, learning firsthand what it meant to work hard, treat customers right, and take pride in doing things the right way. When she stepped into ownership, she did so with the guidance and support of her father—demonstrating how one generation helps the next succeed.
That same tradition continues today.
In November of 2025, Derek Amundson officially took ownership of the business, proudly carrying the family legacy into the next generation and renaming it Dale’s Legacy Body Shop to reflect its rich history. As Derek steps into his role as owner, he does so with the same kind of support that has always defined the business. Kendra remains by his side, offering guidance and experience, just as her father did for her. Meanwhile, Derek’s grandfather—“Grandpa”—continues to play an active role, maintaining his own workspace and spending countless hours with Derek restoring tractors, sharing both mechanical knowledge and craftsmanship.
This cycle of mentorship—where each generation helps the next transition into ownership—has been a cornerstone of the business’s longevity and success.
Dale’s Legacy Body Shop continues to operate with the same values it was built on: never cutting corners, always following OEM guidelines, and treating every customer like family. Derek and his team take pride in standing behind their work and advocating for their customers, even when that means working through challenges with insurance companies to ensure repairs are done properly and safely.
The importance of family remains at the heart of everything they do. Kendra, now a proud grandmother of five, sees the legacy continuing once again. The family spends time together both on the water and at the shop, where the next generation is already learning by example. Just as Kendra and her sister once did—and later Derek and his sister—the children now spend time at the shop after school, observing, helping, and becoming part of the business. Even a 7-year-old grandson has begun taking an interest in the industry, showing the same curiosity and passion that has been passed down through generations.
Their commitment extends beyond the shop and into the community. Dale’s Legacy Body Shop proudly supports AFS and local youth by sponsoring athletic programs and contributing to community initiatives. They also partner with local schools to support trade education, offering students job shadowing opportunities where they can earn school credits while gaining valuable, real-world skills—continuing their belief in investing in the next generation both inside and outside the family.
We take this moment to acknowledge and thank Derek Amundson for the past, present, and future contributions that Dale’s Legacy Body Shop and its staff have made—and will continue to make—to Forest City County.
Derek Amundson, you are highly commended and deeply appreciated for your dedication, perseverance, and for carrying forward a proud family legacy. Through your leadership, the tradition of one generation helping the next continues to strengthen both your business and your community.
Dale’s Legacy Body Shop is not currently accepting customers and selectively hiring for its auto body shop services. Call 641-581-3332 TODAY!
Please continue to shop local and support the outstanding small businesses that strengthen your community—just like this Top Gun Forest City County business has done for generations.
Very Well Done Kendra Amundson!
The World Can Use More Good News!
