Goeckner Brothers Celebrates Diamond Anniversary

VIDEO UNDER STORY

Goeckner Brothers Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram marked its 75th year in business Tuesday.

Chrysler officials at the corporate and division levels were in Effingham at the dealership to present a special diamond award marking the anniversary.

Current owner Mark Goeckner bought the dealership along with his brother Paul, from their father Albert and his brother Frank, who founded the dealership in 1937. Prior to that, Mark Goeckner said their father and uncle operated a repair shop starting in 1932. Mark purchased his brother Paul's share of the company in 2008. Paul retired from the company in 2011. Today, Mark's children Neeley, Thorin and Travis help operate the dealership.

Pictured from Left: Thorin Goeckner, Jeff Kommor of Chrysler, Mark Goeckner, Travis Goeckner and Neeley Goeckner

The dealership has undergone various configurations through the years, originally selling Plymouth and DeSoto along with Chrysler before DeSoto stopped production in 1960. Various brands were switched between dealers over the years and Plymouth ceased production in 2001. In the meantime, though, Goeckner Brothers struck gold in 1992 when they acquired the Jeep franchise for Effingham.

The Goeckner Brothers dealership has also changed locations through the years, but always along East Fayette Avenue. Originally, the dealership was located in a building just west and south across Fayette, now being used by John Boos and Company for storage.  The dealership then moved to a building further east on Fayette Avenue, previously occupied by Shouse Motor Sales. In 1992, construction began on a new facility that sat north and east of the old Shouse building, the structure that is the current home for the dealership.

Pictured from left: Parts Manager Bob Heuerman, Owner Mark Goeckner and Service Manager Pat Brumleve

Mark Goeckner was reminded during a conversation with our Greg Sapp of the company's civic involvement, including his chairing the effort to raise funds for construction of the Kluthe Memorial Pool at Evergreen Hollow Park. Goeckner low-keyed the effort, saying it was right to give back to a community that has been good to the dealership.

Below is video of our conversation this morning with Mark Goeckner.