Endres Mfg. Co. finds itself in a rare field, a family business, entering its fourth generation. Statistics show that only about 3% of family businesses ever reach that level. This is a look back at how Endres Mfg. got to this point.

 Lawrence M. Endres Sr. was born in 1884 and raised in Martinsville, Wisconsin. After beginning his entrepreneurial career with several patents and a small business with his brothers, he branched out on his own and founded L.M. Endres Manufacturing Company in 1926 at 305 West Street. He found early success with his many inventions, including sixteen patents. Some of his more popular inventions were his folding drawbar and his disc sharpener. In 1930 the business was incorporated and the name changed to Endres Mfg. Co.

Larry Jr. was born in 1924 and started his tenure at Endres Mfg. when he was only six. In 1938 Larry bought the company’s first Sears & Roebuck welder for $96. Larry invented his own variation of the folding drawbar in 1940 and attempted to patent it, but was too young. Due to World War II Larry enlisted in the service in 1943 and was forced to close the doors of the company. When he returned, though, he got right back to work. He bought a truck and started fabricating steel beams for the increase in home-building. This was the beginning of the structural steel business which makes up over 95 percent of sales. He also began the pier business when a friend requested that Larry build one for him. Larry saw it as a great opportunity to keep the employees busy in the winter months. Though the pier business is only about 2 percent of sales today, it provides a majority of the exposure to the non-construction community.

Larry married Leona A. Wallin in June 1950 after Lee had completed nursing school. The two of them moved in with Larry’s parents and stayed there until 1953 when their first child, Diane, was born, followed shortly after that by the death of Lawrence Sr. Lee was brought into the business in 1957 as the first full-time bookkeeper. In the same year their second and last child, Ronald, was born.

One of Endres Mfg. Co.’s biggest jobs during this time was for Madison Gas & Electric. Endres employees welded most of the original natural gas lines for Waunakee and many of the neighboring communities. In 1966, after several additions to the original location, they finally grew too big and Larry bought an agricultural lot in Westport, on Century Avenue, just on the edge of Waunakee. Here he built a shop 4 times the size of the original facility. This location was originally used for storage, but then in 1968 the old location was sold and the entire business was moved to the new location. When he moved to the new location he had made a promise to not let the new business become an eyesore to those entering the village. So, Larry took it upon himself to give the shop a Bavarian theme to reflect his German heritage. He also added a park on the south side called, “Kappel Park” after the chapel in the back corner. The chapel was a replica of the chapel his great-grandfather, John Endres, had built in the town of Berry, WI.

In 1965, Ken Ballweg started working part-time at the shop while attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison. After graduation he served a term in the Army Reserve and then came back and started working for the Company full time. While working at Endres he met Diane and they were married in January 1974.

The job that Endres regards as being a defining factor in their history was the new Madison Post Office in 1974. This job helped to define them as a leader in their field and gave them a presence in the community.

In 1982 the goats were introduced to Endres Mfg. They were put on the north side of the property which unfortunately caused a small stir in the neighborhood because of the noise and smell. But Larry was not deterred, In 1990 Larry brought the kids back to the south side of Kappel Park where they now live from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend every year.

In 1990, Larry decided to step down as president, and formally gave the reigns to his son-in-law Ken Ballweg. In 1995 Endres Manufacturing joined the Steel Plus Network, an organization for steel fabricators, and was selected fabricator of the year by this multinational company. In 2003 Ken was awarded the prestigious Bob Coffey award in recognition of his leadership and contributions to the Steel Plus Network. From a Barn on West Street, Endres has grown to an internationally renowned model for superb steel manufacturing.

In 1996 the EMC Foundation was formed with Diane Endres-Ballweg as president, Ron Endres as vice president, and Alan Wolfe as financial counsel. The EMC Foundation was established to provide financial support to local organizations and non-profits that would make Dane County a better place to live, work and play. Since its beginning, the foundation has given over $200,000 to local area non-profit organizations.

Endres has continually given back to the community through community parties, Easter egg hunts, goat races, parade floats, and donations to local organizations. The 75^th Anniversary was celebrated in 2001 with a community party and tours of the plant which the whole community was welcome to take part in. They have also given back to their employees through elaborate Christmas parties all over Wisconsin, Brewer games, golf outings, softball picnics, and a variety of company sponsored activities.

 The next generation is also slowly starting to make an impact on the company. Ben, Sam, and Katie Ballweg have all spent summers working in the office, painting out in the park and learning about the organization and their family heritage. Sam just returned to Endres in the summer of 2004, after graduating from Boston College and spending time gaining work experience for other business organizations. He is currently living in Waunakee with his wife Annie, who is a board member for the EMC Foundation. Katie is at Edgewood High School and continues to spend her summer months working around the shop. Ben followed his grandfather’s footsteps and is currently in the Navy. Ron Endres and his wife Sheila continue to stay involved and live in the Madison area with their children Alexandra and Jordan. Diane stays busy with a plethora of community involvements, teaching aviation at Edgewood High School, planning the company parties and events, and chairing the EMC Foundation.

Endres is grateful to neighbors who have supported us in the community, to business associates who trust in our products and rely on our service, to customers who have become our friends, to our loyal and dedicated employees who continue to go above and beyond in the quality of their work, and to God who has so richly blessed our labors.

 Endres Manufacturing Company, truly a family business and Waunakee’s oldest industry, will continue to be an asset to its customers its employees and its community for years to come. Through proper management and dedicated craftsmen, we, at Endres, will keep providing a superior and timely product that people can appreciate.