About Us

History

Van Hoof Service was started on January 8, 1967 by Gerald M. Van Hoof. Jerry wasn’t always in the auto repair business; he first worked for Van Zeeland Implement and Foremost Dairies, but always tinkered with cars in his backyard in his spare time. One day Jerry got a call from Sinclair Oil Co. who wondered if he would be interested in taking over one of their stations for the current operator who was retiring. Jerry took the opportunity and began operating the business during the day, while going to school at night. Jerry rented Van Hoof’s building at first but eventually bought the property and became affiliated with Unocal.

Jerry Van Hoof

Jerry is the oldest of 9 children. He was born and raised in Freedom. Being raised on a farm he got his start with mechanical repairs, as there is always something to fix on the farm.

Pat Van Hoof

Pat Van Hoof grew up in Little Chute and is 1 of 5 children. She was educated at St John Grade and High School, the University of Wisconsin Fox Valley, and numerous business and accounting classes at night school.

Van Hoof Timeline:

1967 – Van Hoof Service began. Gas cost $.19.9.
1973 - Van Hoof Oil Company (a fuel oil distributorship) was purchased in Little Chute consisting of a service station and a small fuel oil route. Gas cost $.69.9. 1974 – Van Hoof purchased their first wrecker, mainly for their own customers, but their wrecker business grew.
1980 – Van Hoof’s first plow truck was purchased.
1989 – Froelich Oil Company was purchased and added to Van Hoof’s fuel oil customer list.
1990 – Van Hoof Oil Company’s tanks were taken out at the Little Chute site and the building was leased. Gas cost $.99.9.
1992 - Van Hoof Oil Company was sold and Jerry continued running the Kaukauna Station and the 24 hr Towing Service. Two more wreckers to the fleet and the towing service was expanded to county rotation, area police departments, and local businesses.

Jerry continually goes back to school to keep up on the latest methods of vehicle repair. What was previously in books, is now in a computer that gives possibilities of what is wrong based on a specific model and symptoms. Jerry’s wife, Pat, does the bookkeeping, advertising, accounts receivable/payables, customer intake and pickups, and dispatching of the wreckers.

If success is getting what you want, and happiness is liking what you get, then Jerry is truly a HAPPY GUY. He and Pat truly enjoy all their customers and enjoy hearing all the stories about their families. They feel that in the hustle and bustle to get a vehicle repaired, it is the customer that is important and they try and make the customer feel welcome and appreciated. For that they are truly blessed.

Community Involvement

Community Involvement is important to Van Hoof Service. Some of the things that Van Hoof has been involved with in the past are: