Owner of Curns in New London set to retire
By John Faucher
Photo Courtesy of Jim Curns
After more than two decades of lifting things up and gently setting them down, New London business owner, Jim Curns, has set his wings on retirement by the end of 2022.
In addition to his life of farming and entrepreneurial pursuits, he founded Curns Crane Service 22 years ago.
Since then, Curns has used his hallmark blue and white crane to lift just about anything across thousands of different job sites in Central Wisconsin.
Some of his more unusual lifts included another crane, airplanes, a three-car garage, and an A-frame cottage he once moved 180 feet from its original location.
“It’s just such a unique tool,” said Curns. “You just facilitate somebody else being able to do something in a safe manner that they couldn’t otherwise do.”
In addition to farming, and his passion for flying airplanes, Curns has been involved in about 10 different businesses throughout his lifetime.
“This was probably the most visible gig of all the things that I’ve done,” said Curns, paging through photos of some of the more unique lifts with which he’s been involved.
“Running a crane is very similar to flying an airplane. You have to be very in tune with the weather, very in tune with being smooth and have acute situational awareness,” he said.
“Safety is number one. You have to look over a job, have safety checklists and ask a lot of questions,” he explained. Some jobs are more complicated than others.
Curns is thankful that in his 22 years as operator, he’s been accident free.
“Like flying a plane, it takes a lot of practice,” he said.
“That whole machine becomes an extension of your body, and you need to know your gauges.
“You have to have a plan and become someone that really thinks things through,” said Curns. “You’ve got to be calm.”
Curns has also brought that philosophy into the public realm through his years serving as Mukwa Town Board chairman.
Planning for future
More than a year ago Jim and his wife, Cathie, started to think about his retirement. Cathie is a retired educator who still enjoys substitute teaching when it fits her busy schedule.
The couple has four children and five grandchildren, with one more on the way.
“I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve ever done, but three jobs were getting to be too much,” said Jim Curns.
“That’s when I ran into Jon Faulks and he said, ‘You know if you ever think about selling, we’d be interested in buying your company,’” Curns explained. “We were in discussion for over a year and I just needed to decide if I was ready.”
Curns added, “I’ve always felt very comfortable dealing with the Faulks organization. I knew they were the right organization to buy my company.”
On Dec. 31, 2021, Faulks Brothers Construction purchased Curns Crane Service.
Transitioning
“I’ve gotten to know the Faulks Brothers staff and they have a wonderful team ethic. They value their people and they value their customers. I really feel I’m leaving my customers in good hands,” said Curns.
Curns will remain on staff to help convey some of his knowledge and experience and do a portion of the lift work when he is available.
Jon Faulks, third generation family member and president of Faulks Brothers Construction, said they’ve used Jim’s services over the years and have come to appreciate his knowledge and expertise.
“During this transition from an operation name standpoint, we’re leaving the business as Curns Crane Service to obviously utilize what he’s built and grown already and then eventually we will convert that into Faulks.
Jim will help us through that transition time and work with our current employee to run the crane as well as do some of the crane work himself depending on the schedules,” said Faulks.
“We want to continue that service level of what Jim’s customers are accustomed to as well as now be able to branch out to our customers and provide them that added service to our excavating and our concrete divisions.”
As far as Curns is concerned, he’s excited to work with Faulks and have a more flexibility in his schedule as he transitions into full retirement at the end of 2022.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a better fit for a company to purchase my business,” said Curns.
Faulks Brothers Construction has been in business for more than 76 years. The Waupaca based firm employs 95 people in multiple divisions including: sand, gravel, decorative stones, top soils, trucking, excavating and land improvement, concrete, mixing and athletic field blending operations.
Retirement plans
As he slowly transitions out of the crane cab, Curns said he plans to spend more time on his tractors and he will continue farming, but definitely he plans more time in the cockpit of his airplane.
“It’s kind of an exciting time for Jim,” said Faulks.
“I think he’s enjoying the ability to have the flexibility and step back a bit and do more of the things he loves to do like flying.”
Curns began flying with his father when he was eight years old and has had a passion for it ever since.
One year after his dad stopped flying, Jim started flying lessons in 1988 and bought his first ultralight airplane in 1991.
“My dad was a big influence on me learning to fly, but the other big influence was Wayne Poppy,” said Curns.
“Wayne was very helpful and encouraging for me. He literally showed me how to make it possible. He really took me under his wing, sort of speaking,” said Curns.
“He taught me you don’t have to be rich to be able to fly; you just have to be dedicated.”
Curns and his wife, Cathie, currently own a Cherokee 180 airplane.
“Travel is what I want to do the most,” said Curns of his plans for retirement.
“My hope is we’ll do some traveling together, maybe fly to the southwest, visit family and see the Redwoods,” said Curns.
Having an airplane and an airfield on the farm definitely cuts down on the travel time.