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About Voyageur Lumber
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With over 100 years of combined experience in the Lumber Industry, serving not only the Ely area but also Illinois, Central and Southern Minnesota, the staff at Voyageur Lumber has just about seen it all. This combination of experience and adaptability is Vital in an ever changing Industry and an ever changing world. So, whether you’re looking to build your dream Rustic Getaway or an Energy Efficient Green Building, you can count on Voyageur Lumber to answer your questions and provide you with the materials and service you need. |
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John Schiltz “Sr.” (Manager)
John was born into the lumber and building material trade, as was his son John Schiltz “Jr.”
John’s father ran the Lampert Building Center in Ely for 28 years and if he wanted to spend time with his father, Bill Schiltz, he would go to the “yard”. While there, he was more than likely put to “work” i.e. sweeping, picking up nails, straightening lumber and so on.
Sr. started working full time summers, part time winters at Lamperts when he was 17 (1977) and he has never left the Building Materials Trade since!
John also has a Tree Farm 2 miles west of Ely that he maintains and also shears and harvests Christmas trees for local customers. Some of his trees have even gone as far as the Twin Cities and Illinois.
John has three children, six grandkids, a great grandchild, two red labs named Sadie & Etta, cats Coffee and Donut, and his wife of 42 years, Carolyn.
John has been at Voyageur Lumber for over 34 years and three years before Voyageur, he worked at Standard Lumber. Same location! Same desk!
John’s passions are his grandkids, horseshoes, shooting pool, fishing and hunting, his tree farm, antique bottles, and of course, his wife and kids, and even working at the yard!
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John Schiltz “Jr.” (Outside Sales)
John, or “Jr.” as he’s known around the yard, is a 3rd generation Lumberman. Like his father before him, he got his unofficial start in the lumber business sweeping nails and picking up garbage around the yard to earn money for candy.
At 16, John officially joined the Voyageur Lumber ranks as a “yard guy”; working during his summers until he graduated from St. John’s University in 2002. In the winter of 2002, John left Ely to work for a string of lumber yards; serving as a sales assistant in St. Cloud, interim and Assistant Manager in Stillwater, and Manager in St. Peter.
In 2006, with his young family in tow, John returned to Ely as Voyageur Lumbers first Outside Salesman. Seventeen years later, John’s family has grown to include his 2 children Isabelle and John Cooper, his wife Heidi, and Broc du Bourbonnais Bo. John enjoys Tuesday Dart League with his wife, summer horse shoes at his father’s property, and is a diehard Chicago Bears fan.
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Kayla Tedrick (Accounts Receivable)
Kayla is the last member of the Schiltz family to be employed at Voyageur Lumber, joining her dad and older brother in April of 2009. Kayla graduated from Ely Memorial High School in 2002 and graduated from UMD in 2006. Kayla lives a short 2 blocks away from Voyageur Lumber in a home that has been in the family since the time of her Great Grandparents. Kayla lives with her husband Pete, who is also her favorite coworker, and her 2 dogs, Bentley and Annie.
Kayla loves to tend her vegetable and flower gardens in the summer and enjoys crochet projects to pass time in the winters. She and Pete enjoy traveling and rooting on their favorite sports teams by attending Wild and Twins games. Their favorite pastime is their visits with their Granddaughters.
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Pete Tedrick (Sales)
Pete could not resist joining the family business in 2015 by joining his wife and in-laws at Voyageur Lumber. Pete started as a "yard guy" and quickly earned his way up to Sales. Pete loves interacting with customers and being involved in the day to day activity of the store.
Pete is a 1987 graduate of Ely Memorial High School, and a 1992 graduate of St. Cloud State University. Pete has 2 children, Tyler and Ashley, and 3 granddaughters. Pete lives in Ely with his wife Kayla and their 2 dogs, Bentley and Annie.
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Matt Block
Jim Carlson
Our Material Handling Specialists!
Matt has been with us for just over a year now.
Jim, our Yard Foreman, has been here since 2002!
Not pictured, Eli Anderson. He is attending NDSU and will return to our workforce once again this spring.
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