George W. Bush speaks Rich DeVos funeral

My name is George. I am truly grateful for this opportunity to commemorate the life of an extraordinary American in a friend that Rich DeVos whispered to and defended many presidents over the years and one that I know very well. You call it 41. I call it dead. Send his love to the DeVos family, like Lauren, unfortunately she can't be here today, but she wanted me to make sure to pass on his love. A

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man was first and foremost a family man, so I am pleased to be with his beloved children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, of course, we don't really honor Rich without remembering his matriarch and the love of his life, so I join to you to thank you for your long lives and your extraordinary marriage despite our age difference.

Rich and I had a few things in common, we both gave speeches all over the world, although I don't think he trashed the English language as often as I did. I was known as a compassionate conservative. He was the compassionate capitalist. Perhaps, above all, we share a love of freedom. Rico once said. I have always loved my country and consider myself a patriot, yet I have been criticized for speaking so enthusiastically about freedom, free enterprise, and love of country, something else we had in common. I thank the DeVos family, one of the great American families, for inviting me to reflect on Rich's love of freedom, his belief in the universal value of human freedom, and his recognition of the responsibilities that come with freedom in preparing these remarks. .

Looking back at my second inaugural address decades ago, it seemed like this is what I said: America has the need. of idealism and courage because we have essential work at home the unfinished work of American freedom in the ideal of American freedom citizens find the dignity and security of economic independence rather than laboring on the edge of subsistence in the idea America's freedom of public interest depends on private character based on integrity and tolerance toward others and the government of conscience in our own lives. Our nation depends on men and women who care for others and surround the lost with love.

I continued to ask that our generation advance the cause of freedom and do our part. character brings credit to that cause well, if this is the standard of good citizenship Rich DeVos was gold, one has to wonder where that source of freedom would come from, well, this is what he said, he said the credit is growing up here in Grand Rapids , the

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were born in Dutch immigrants who were drawn to the freedom and possibility of our country he is a child of the Great Depression his father lost his job his family lost their home but they never lost hope the rich family was always steadfast in their belief in the promise of America and so after The rich of World War II and Jabinándale came up with a novel idea based on that promise when we thought about honoring our own business we wrote we thought the opportunity to do so was critical for America we thought that everyone who wanted to could do it. owning your own business my belief in free enterprise and my advocacy of free enterprise as the greatest economic engine the world has ever known was confirmed daily as we watched our small business grow, he went on to say: an empty floodplain and a small rural village.

Manufacturing plants, warehouses and offices began to sprout rapidly here were overwhelming evidence of the power of free enterprise, something that even all my speeches and writings could never measure up to in what is today Amway's world headquarters. As Amway grew richer, it always remained steadfast in its conviction that our country must at all costs maintain and defend our freedoms. The rich believed in free and open societies ordered by moral conviction and a compassionate government. They believed in economies that reward effort. that protect the weak and the duties of nations to respect the dignity and rights of all and recognized that the desire for freedom is not an exclusively American value, but the innate hope of all humanity, so rich did it travel around the world and is selling America by promoting free enterprise, personal responsibility and opportunity for all, and there was no better salesman of American values.

In addition to Rich DeVos, I remember visiting an Amway conference in China a few years ago. The arena was filled with thousands of successful Amway entrepreneurs who were realizing the blessings and benefits of economic freedom by selling to America, which was actually selling freedom for all and empowering people around the world. The rich of the world understood that the gift of freedom came with responsibilities. He became not only a leader in business but a leader in this community in the church and in our country. He always helped those less fortunate. The Gospel of Luke reminds us that those who have been given much, much will be required, the rich lived the gospel daily and listened to the rich salesmen of America speak this week and I was struck by the power of this passage.

We believe in him. I have always believed in this country that man was created in the image of God and given talents and responsibilities and instructed to use them to make this world a better place to live in and you will see that this is truly the best thing about the United States. Joined. He went on to say that this is where it contrasts with everything other ungodly societies try to do because, deep down, we believe that man was created and in him as a living spirit, that he is not just a pile of dirt and clay thrown together for a few years until we bury it, but it has greater power. depth and responsibilities in that and that is why we respect each other and that is why we care for each other and that is why we come together and give thanks for the things that we enjoy rich certainly was more than a pile of dirt and clay that he had With greater depth, he recognized his greater responsibilities and that is why today we come together and give thanks for Rich DeVos.

His life is a testament to the promise of America and the blessings of freedom. We will miss him and remember his life, and how we did it. so we rejoice in his heavenly reunion with Helena and his audience with Almighty God bless them.