Wirth, Inc. Celebrates 60 Years of Plumbing, Perserverance, and Pride
In 1965, a young and energetic farm boy from Geneseo took a leap of faith—and unknowingly set the foundation for what would become one of the region’s most trusted family-owned businesses. Today, Wirth, Inc. celebrates its 60th anniversary, a milestone that not only honors six decades of plumbing expertise but also the evolution of the company into a full-service provider for plumbing, heating, cooling, HVAC, and geothermal needs. It’s a legacy built on service, family, and community.
Ray Wirth, celebrated his 90th birthday in February. He still remembers his start like it was yesterday. “I didn’t know what I wanted to do after high school,” he says. “College wasn’t for me, but I knew I wanted to work.” That work ethic led him from baling hay on his family’s farm to a plumbing apprenticeship with Vandemore Plumbing and Heating at just 17 years old.
After more than a decade learning the trade, Ray co-founded Becker & Wirth in 1965, eventually rebranding it into what is now Wirth, Inc.—a business that would steadily grow from plumbing roots into the heating and HVAC fields as customer needs expanded.
Building a Business, Building a Town
Wirth’s first major project—an expansion of Central Bank in the late ’60s—was both a challenge and a turning point. “It was a big deal for us,” he recalls. “But we figured it out. We had good people, and we made it happen.” From that point on, the company grew steadily, known not just for plumbing but for its people-first philosophy.
That commitment extended to employees, many of whom joined through the local high school’s co-op program and stayed for decades. “One employee- Randy Rasmussen- stayed with us for 48 and a half years,” Ray says with pride. “We paid them well, treated them right, and in return, they helped us build something lasting.”
In 1979, needing more space, Wirth bought and remodeled the former Lee Lumberyard on Exchange Street—now a familiar landmark for longtime residents. Even the economic downturns of the early ’80s didn’t slow him down. Ray kept his team employed by flipping houses in the winter, sometimes selling those very homes to his own workers.
A Family Business in Every Sense
Wirth, Inc. has always been more than just a business—it’s a family legacy. All five of Ray’s children have worked for the company at some point, with four still involved today. Sons Cory, Jason, and Ki now lead the day-to-day operations, while daughter Wendy handles office work. Daughter Jodi retired after 32 years of bookkeeping. “They’ve taken what I started and made it grow,” Ray says. “And they’re not driving Mercedes. They’re driving to job sites, getting dirty, doing the work.”
Ray’s late wife Judy, who passed away in 2004, played a critical role in the company’s early years—raising the kids and stepping in whenever needed. One of Ray’s fondest memories is of her loading the kids into the car and making a run to the Quad Cities to pick up parts for a job. “I’d give her money for McDonald’s,” he says with a laugh. “That was the treat. That’s just what we did. Everyone pitched in.”
A Culture of Craft and Community
From emergency night calls to decades-long relationships with customers, Wirth, Inc. built its name on service and integrity. Ray recalls one story in particular—a hot July night when he got a well pump running so a local farmer’s hogs could drink water. “That customer never forgot,” Ray says. “He told a contractor years later he’d only build his house if we did the plumbing.”
Even today, the next generation continues to uphold that legacy. Cory handles time books and works in the field. Jason manages crews and heads out to job sites. Ki bids large-scale jobs and oversees major projects. Wendy keeps the administrative side running smoothly.
The company has also remained involved in the high school co-op program that gave so many workers their start. “We’ve had great luck with co-op students,” Ray says. “They didn’t all stay in plumbing, but they learned how to work. That’s important.” He credits much of that success to his friend Ted McAvoy, whose steady commitment to bringing both boys and girls into the program helped create the strong pipeline of young workers the business still relies on today.
Looking Forward
Today, Wirth, Inc. has grown to forty-five employees and a fleet of forty vehicles, serving the community with a full range of plumbing, heating, cooling, HVAC, and geothermal services. The evolution from a single-truck plumbing operation to a comprehensive mechanical contractor is a point of pride—and a testament to Ray’s “work hard, treat people right” philosophy.
When asked about the future, Ray’s hope is simple: that the company continues—maybe even as an employee-owned operation someday. “That would be the dream,” he says. “Let the people who helped build it keep it going.”
Now retired, Ray still drops by to help, share stories, and check in. “I didn’t do anything anyone else couldn’t do,” he says humbly. “I just worked hard, treated people right, and never stopped moving.”
“I want to thank the people of this area—and the surrounding towns—for their confidence in us. For trusting us with their homes, their businesses, and their families' needs.
They stuck with us. Some folks could’ve gone somewhere else for a cheaper water heater, but they said, 'No, I'm calling Ray Wirth.' And that loyalty? That’s meant everything to me and my family.”
