Major’s third generation business operating since 1955

By Joan Janzen

It’s pretty amazing that three generations have owned and operated a business in Major, Sask, for nearly 70 years. Even though the village’s 1959 population of one hundred and eighty-six souls dropped to sixty-five in 1992 and less than thirty-five in 2024, Wenzel Motors continues to thrive. For owner Dan Wenzel, it’s business as usual despite the decreasing number of farmers in the area.

Dan Wenzel, owner of Wenzel Motors in Major said “Next year Wenzel Motors will have been in business for 70 years”. SUBMITTED

Dan Wenzel, pictured in 1990 when he bought Wenzel Motors from his father Darrell. Photo “Where the Meadowlark Sings” history book

Dan’s father, Darrel, and his grandfather, Sandy, started the business in the spring of 1955, renting the old Adams Motors building. “My grandfather was here for the first year. He had worked in Compeer, where my parents lived, before coming to Major,” Dan explained. “They moved to Major to start a business, and later, my grandfather helped do books.”

When they outgrew that location, they built their present structure, at which time the Texaco bulk fuel business kept pace with the welding and repair jobs. “1966 is when we built the quonset,” Dan said. “My dad used to sell grain trucks and farm equipment. I began driving as a kid when I was 7 or 8 years old. I’ve worked here since 1978. I worked here before that, but I didn’t get paid.”

But Dan’s dad employed and provided a good living for many people through the years. He also apprenticed a half dozen people.

Later, a portable classroom from the Major School was added for additional space. “I started fixing school buses for the Kerrobert school division. I’ve been in the safety program for the Saskatchewan government since late 1978 or 1979,” he said.

In 1990, the bulk fuel business changed to Esso, and Darrell sold it to Dan, passing it down to the third generation. The business still sells propane, gas, and diesel but is now selling independently.

Wenzel Motors is a full-service mechanical shop that services heavy trucks and semis. “My towing has migrated into the heavy stuff because I tow semis. That’s the fun part,” Dan said. But that’s not all they do at Wenzel Motors.

“We hauled a mobile home to Rock Creek, B.C. - about a 17-hour trip. We hauled it up a steep incline; it was entertaining, to say the least,” he said. That type of adventure may be why Dan describes it as “a towing hobby that got out of hand.” His wife also helps out, and they go on some of these towing adventures together.

Besides having the help of his wife, Dan has been fortunate to have had a couple of employees who worked for him for over twenty years. He referred to another employee who came on board in 2010 as “Too-good-to-be-true Bob”. “He still comes out to help and he’s 78 years old and drives school bus,” he said.

Currently, he’s had a local farmer work full-time; however, at one time, he had four people working in the back shop. “My life was pretty easy for a while because I had lots of help, but then all of our help started to move and leave us,” he recalled.

Over the years he has learned to adapt. “The thing that keeps us going is we never stopped advancing in the technology part. We are as current as we can get with both light and heavy vehicles,” he stated.