Loveland veteran receives the gift of a new roof
Michael Kempkes is 200th veteran nationwide to get a new roof through program
nothing for free, but sometimes you do,” said the disabled veteran.
“It’s ver y nice.” Kempkes, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1971 to 1975, with two tours in Vietnam, was the recipient of roofing supplier Owens Corning’s 200th free roof to veterans across the countr y through a program that launched in 2016 called Giving Back to Those Who Ser ve.
“It’s for veterans who can’t af ford it,” said Dan Peterich, owner of Peterich Custom Construction, who donated the labor of his workers to install Kempkes’ roof for free. “They need it but can’t afford it. … It took a load off his shoulders. He really needed it done.”
Clifford Fiske, a friend of Kempkes’ from when they both worked in the building industry, called Peterich and another roofing company for estimates on replacing the 1,200-square-foot roof. He had noticed shingles falling off his friend’s roof and started calling around.
The estimates were at least $5,000 — an amount that Kempkes just could not af ford.
Peterich, himself a Marine veteran, had been wanting to participate with Owens Corning on a Giving Back to Those Who Serve project. So when Fiske called for an estimate, and he learned of a fellow serviceman in need, Peterich offered the free roof to Kempkes.
He and his brother, Dustin Peterich, who coowns the For t Collins-based business, have committed to providing free labor for two roofs for veterans in Northern Colorado each year through the partnership.
“I’m proud to work for a company that does this,” said Gerard Dimanna, a salesman for Owens Corning and a U.S. Air Force veteran. “It’s nice. Give a lot to those who need it.”
The laminate shingles that Owens Corning donated for Kempkes’ roof are the top-of-the-line product the company offers, impact-resistant and wind-resistant up to 130 mph gusts, which are hurricane-force winds.
Both Dimanna and Peterich went inside Kempkes’ home to shake his hand and thank him for his ser vice.
The 1971 Poudre High School graduate enlisted in the Marines before he had even graduated and shipped out right after. He moved to Loveland in 1980 and worked for many years in the construction industry. Now, he has medical conditions that keep him home and inside all the time.
While Kempkes was not able to go outside due to his medical conditions, he was happy to see the photos of the progress that Fiske brought inside. And he happily shook the hands of his fellow veterans who told him how much they appreciated his ser vice to the countr y.
He smiled and then, referring to the new roof, answered: “Thank you.” Pamela Johnson: 970-6995405, johnsonpareporterherald.com