UNITY – With the rumours of retirement swirling through the community for over a year, reality set in for everyone at Heitt’s Plumbing and Heating late this spring.
Owners and brothers Glen and Larry Heitt have both retired from the business, leaving their legacy in the hands of employees and new owners Kyle Carlton and Jonah Kopp. Carlton has been a journeyman plumber for the past 20 years while Kopp has 11 years of experience as a journeyman sheet metal worker. With Larry and wife, Sheila, officially retired in October 2021, Glen was not quite ready. Even Glen’s wife, Wanda, passed on her knowledge working the front counter to new staff before retiring in the spring of 2023.
Both Carlton and Kopp were more the hands-on guys of the business, so Carlton’s wife Jenna joined the team, learning as much as she could from Glen before he handed the keys over completely Feb. 29.
The business was originally started in 1961 in a small shop by Ben Knorr, an uncle to the Heitt brothers. In 1981, the duo took over the business and watched it grow out of the small shop it was once in. Although they grew out of the original shop, it was still being used as cold storage.
Over the years, Heitt’s Plumbing and Heating seen many staff members come and go as they found their way in the world. In 2013, Heitt’s Plumbing and Heating said they had a total of 12 staff members working for them, including Stan Weber. Weber was not only the longest serving employee, starting around the time the brothers acquired the business, but also a shareholder. Weber is still an employee with the new owners, looking after more of the out-of-town work that needs to be done.
Larry and Sheila moved to Murray Lake once they had retired, saying they would miss Unity as they start their new chapter in life. Glen and Wanda decided to continue to call Unity home, unless the lake is calling them. However, they all hope their loyal and supportive customer base continues to use the services of Heitt’s Plumbing and Heating.
With nine staff members on board, customers will see no big changes with the transition. Both Carlton and Kopp agreed to keep the business name Heitt’s Plumbing and Heating.
“Glen and Larry have built a strong foundation, and we are proud to take it over. It will be the same quality customer service, doing our best to serve the community and surrounding area and the same familiar faces,” said Carlton.
The wisdom the Heitt men left behind will always be valuable. Larry was always known to say, “measure twice, cut once” and “No time to do it right the first time, always time to do it twice.” Glen’s infamous words will always be “When you think there’s nothing to do, there’s always something to do at the shop.” and “Always call the customer back.”
Although there will be no big changes, there are the little things that will go unnoticed.
“The constant singing and drumming around the shop, you always knew they were there.”
The new owners held a customer appreciation lunch on June 18, to help celebrate the retirement of the past owners and to welcome the new owners.
