By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – There is one man in town who wishes it would turn cold and snow.
John C. Loupee, president and general manager of Service Oil Co., would like to see his trucks on the road delivering fuel oil.
Still, his drivers are learning where new customers live, as Loupee has taken over Neumann Oil's customers.
Fred Neumann of Dowagiac retired.
Loupee, the third-generation owner, has been in the business 30 years.
The business is on Water Street in Cassopolis, though Loupee lives in Edwardsburg.
"We supply 25 stores, Loupee said, 23 of which are Marathons. Loupee once had five stations, but that was "not the direction I wanted," he added. He has lightened his load and is the supplier and not also the operator. He plans on servicing Neumann's 100 customers, as they did.
Those calling that number will be answered by Service Oil representatives.
"I am looking forward to the relationships with those customers," Loupee said.
He has a staff of eight. They deliver bulk oil, gas, diesel and soy products to the agricultural industry and trucking market, but not propane.
"A little of everything," Loupee added.
As houses become more efficent and renovations are made, the number of residences which use fuel oil has dwindled, he said.
This is the fourth acquisition for Service Oil, which took over Cass Oil in the 1980s, and Hickman Oil of Decatur and Energy Oil of Dowagiac in the '90s.
Loupee's grandfather, Burton Loupee, had the business in the '30s.
His father Charles died in 1971, when Loupee's mother, Doris, took over until 1982, when John took over.
John and his wife Wendy have three children and two grandchildren.
Jennifer, 30, is studying at Indiana University South Bend (IUSB) to become a teacher. Danielle, 26, a Western University graduate, works at the juvenile justice facility in South Bend. Chuck, 22, is studying political science at Western.