Then, fire threatened John’s own home.
“I took two weeks off, got on my bulldozer, and cut fire lines around my parents’ house and ours,” he says. “We cut down over 100 trees. We hauled out food, freezers, everything. And by God’s grace, the rain came. The fire didn’t get us.” They lost two and a half weeks of build time—but still finished the project on schedule. “Deanne, the client, was patient. And the job got done,” he says with quiet pride. A Builder with a Shepherd’s Heart What John brings to his work can’t be taught in a trade school or priced into a bid. It’s the lived experience of someone who has been a laborer, a husband, a father, and now a leader. His crew members aren’t just employees— they’re family. “One of my guys, 25 years old, just left to go into the medical field,” John shares. “He’s got several kids. The nursing home he works for is putting him through school. I’m proud of him.”
At 66, John isn’t done yet. “In five years, I’ll be 71. My wife keeps asking when I’m going to retire,” he laughs. “But I’ve got strength. I’d like to grow. Maybe take on a few more custom homes. Hire a couple more guys. We’ll see where God leads.” The future may not be drawn in pencil just yet, but the foundation is solid. Built on faith. Built on compassion. Built on love for the craft and care for the people who benefit from it. “Every January,” John admits, “I find myself praying, ‘Lord, are we going to have work this year?’ Looking Ahead—With Gratitude
And his subcontractors? He treats them like gold.
“I pay them as soon as I can. I split travel stipends with them. One of my plumbers said he’s been in business over 20 years and never got paid for something he hadn’t done yet,” John says. “I’ve been an employee. I remember what it feels like.”
58 S P E C I A L E D I T I O N
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