Scratches, Dents and Deer Damage... Jerry's Body Shop Celebrates 50 Years
- Trinity Gruenberg
- 10 minutes ago
- 1 min read
by Trinity Gruenberg
Jerry’s Auto Body is celebrating its 50th year in business in Eagle Bend.
Jerry Lorentz, who established the business and opened the shop in 1975, has kept articles, advertisements, and photos from the shop over the last five decades, recalling memorable moments and significant changes in the industry.
“It goes by quickly. In the old days, you think, ‘I’ve been in this for 25 years; that’s forever!’ and then suddenly there’s another 25, and you realize it doesn’t seem like that long ago,” said Jerry.
Jerry graduated from Staples Technical College in 1972 as a heavy equipment operator. He initially worked in the Twin Cities as an oiler for Rocket Transfer, navigating a hydro crane around the area that was short on power and had no brakes.
Soon after, he returned to Wadena to pump gas and began learning auto body repair at his cousin’s shop, learning primarily through observation and practice.
“Everything I’ve learned, I had to do the hard way. I’m not a natural,” he admitted...
