Groundbreaking Held for J and R Collision Centers

(PRESENT FOR THE J & R COLLISION CENTERS GROUNDBREAKING, LEFT TO RIGHT: HANK KOESTER AND RHONDA MEYER OF TEUTOPOLIS STATE BANK, BLAINE WILHOUR OF LONGHORN BUILDINGS, EFFINGHAM MAYOR MERV GILLENWATER, ROGER BUHNERKEMPE, JAKE BUHNERKEMPE, CITY COMMISSIONER DON ALTHOFF AND CITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR TODD HULL. ROGER BUHNERKEMPE USED HIS EXCAVATING EXPERTISE TO CREATE A LARGER THAN USUAL "GROUNDBREAKING")

When you pair a father with decades of experience in auto body repair in the Effingham area with a son who has made his own mark in the business in the city of St. Louis, you have J & R Collision Centers.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held Tuesday for the business, which is to be located south along US Route 45 across from Airport Road.

The father, Roger Buhnerkempe, owned Roger's Body Shop in Effingham for many years before selling the business and moving into the excavating industry. 

The son, Jake Buhnerkempe, said he followed his dad around the shop from the time he was old enough to walk, but also had a love of firefighting. He became a firefighter for the City of St. Louis, but never lost his love for auto body work and when the opportunity presented itself four years ago, opened a shop in St. Louis.

When Jake and his wife, the former Sarah Higgs, learned that they would become parents this fall, the urge to move back home grew strong. That's about the time the conversations had gotten underway between father and son about opening a shop in Effingham. Jake and Sarah have purchased a home south of Effingham and are headed back to the area, leaving firefighting for a chance to expand his business.

(ROGER AND JAKE BUHNERKEMPE)

An 11,500 square foot building will feature two new heated downdraft paint booths, both with bake and cure cycle, which Jake says will produce a "baked on" finish. He said they've looked at a number of shops and the combination of his dad's experience and his knowledge of a major market operation will help develop a "first class facility".

Construction is to be done in September, with the facility to be in operation by the first of October.