Know Your Neighbor: Kevin and Tina Klostermann, owners of DCA Construction Company
Kevin and Tina Klostermann are adamant the American Dream is available to anyone who perseveres and works together to attain it; even with humble beginnings.
Kevin was the second of five children born Jan. 13, 1969, to Stan and JoAnn Jansen Klostermann in Highland. With three brothers and one sister, the parents were focused on providing for their family in a rural setting. Among his early childhood memories, Kevin recalls hunting for rabbits, squirrels, deer and fishing.
When only a third-grader, Kevin regularly earned money baling hay, feeding farm animals and performing general labor for friends and neighbors. In his off-time, he played ball and rode four-wheelers with buddies. During his time at Central High School, Kevin was drawn to vocational studies and participating in Future Farmers of America. He was an officer in FFA and graduated in 1987.
Praising his parents, Kevin said he was taught the importance of perseverance.
“I was shown by example how to get up each day, work hard and do it with a willing attitude,” said Kevin. “We were also encouraged to learn something new every day and to retain that knowledge.“
Evidently that outlook went a long way for enabling Kevin and his wife, Tina, to get to where they are today, the owners of DCA Construction in Breese.
According to Investopedia, “The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success in a society where upward mobility is possible for everyone. The American dream is achieved through sacrifice, risk-taking and hard work, rather than by chance.”
The original Aniston Lumber Yard was purchased by Don and Claudia Albers. Kevin worked for them for three summers during high school and became full time after graduation for 18 months. Feeling the need to continue his studies, Kevin checked out several vocational schools, took the aptitude test and ended up getting a two-year scholarship at ITT Tech for drafting and engineering. He then went to work for a contractor building farm buildings and later on built on his own for a while.
In 1989, and while attending a Bartelso softball tournament, he zeroed in on Tina Winkler. They both acknowledge the mutual attraction was “pretty much love at first sight.” Tina was fresh out of high school and Kevin said that in addition to her obvious beauty, she was fun ... they danced and their personalities just clicked.
Tina was born Oct. 22, 1972, in Bartelso to Vince and Kathy Winkler and had two brothers and a sister. Because of the short periods of time between their births, Tina had built-in playmates and spent much of her time outdoors playing sports.
Tina is grateful her parents prepared her and her siblings for real life.
“We were taught good manners and always, before sitting down as a family for a meal, we prayed. Additionally, we had chores and if we wanted something, we had to earn it. Most importantly, they taught us to work together as a team. There was never an attitude of entitlement.“
While attending high school, Tina worked part time at age 16 at the Breese Nursing Home interacting with elderly patients. One of her favorite recollections is having to work on Christmas Day and a very senior resident motioned for her to approach his bed. When she did, he whispered “Merry Christmas.”
“That one, simple act of kindness has stuck with me all these years,” said Tina.
Love at first sight
After having been smitten with the love bug upon meeting Kevin, the two became virtually inseparable, as they still are.
“I thought he was so handsome,” said Tina. “Plus, he was mature, held together well and made me feel so safe and secure. He was like a big teddy bear. Internally, he’s a very strong man.”
They dated three years and married Nov. 7, 1992. Like most newlyweds, they were desirous of building a family and a home. They also knew if they wanted all of that, they would have to work for it. Kevin was employed by Rehkemper Construction Co.
He started out in the office and advanced to sales and designed buildings throughout the Midwest and had reached the apex of his career with them after 25 years.
Shortly after welcoming their first child, daughter Maria, the couple discovered an antiquated home in Bartelso sorely needing tender, loving care. They purchased, renovated and remodeled it and lived there seven years. During this time, their family grew to include son, Collin, and daughter, Kirsten.
Tina had worked for a law firm, but soon realized in order to advance her career, she would need some college. So while Tina earned her master’s degree, Kevin worked and played Mr. Mom. He also coached and supported community activities. In retrospect, both realize it took teamwork to accomplish such a feat.
Klostermanns take over DCA
Knowing Kevin was interested in the possibility of purchasing DCA, Don Albers approached him in 2016 to find out if Kevin was still interested. The Klostermanns were still desirous of having their own construction company, and the deal was finalized in 2019. Don has remained as a consultant.
Other than making some needed updates and improvements, along with the addition of a computer system, Kevin has kept the work ethic the same.
“We have about 30 employees and these men work hard,” said Kevin. “We value our workers and our customers and strive to perpetuate the quality of our workmanship.”
DCA builds agricultural buildings for beef, dairy, swine and poultry, in addition to semi-truck washes and egg processing plants. They construct locally, regionally and have completed sites in Arkansas, Kansas, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky.
In 1999, the Klostermanns bought some family property and built the home in which they now live.
Kevin is especially pleased with the absence of frequent turnover with his workmen and hopes this is due to his ability to empathize with them and the sometimes less-than-desirable working conditions due to inclement weather and foul animal odors.
Employees think highly of the boss
Two of his young men are twin brothers, Nick and Doug Wiebler. Their opinion of their boss: “He never asks or expects us to do anything he wouldn’t do or hasn’t done. He is a kind and decent person to work for,” said the twins.
Two other men, Ed Huelsmann and Mike Galf, are the most senior employees inasmuch Kevin recalls they were his overseers when he was just a lad.
“We’d be headed to a location where we were going to work and a bunch of us would be piled in the back of a pick up truck,“ said Kevin. “Well, on the way there, we would often dose off. Ed would pull a long stick out from underneath his seat and start tapping us and telling us that we were not going to sleep if he couldn’t. Well, one day when he reached for his branch, he found it broken into little pieces. I’m proud those two are still with us.”
Although Kevin hopes to possibly expand and diversify in the future, for now he intends to continue to work for his strong customer base and repeat, word-of-mouth business. Tina is the Human Resource Manager for Antolin Nashville in Nashville that produces interior auto parts.
While appreciating the pursuit of a college education for some, Kevin said he hopes more of those not scholastically inclined would consider a future that requires a skilled trade.
“After all, where would we be without our farmers, welders, mechanics and construction workers,” said Kevin.