An Indiana native, David Roeder attended Northwestern University, where he majored in business. He planned to follow his father's footsteps and go into the insurance business, but his plans were interrupted when his draft number was called while he was taking finals his senior year. He made a quick decision to accept a commission in the U.S. Navy and served a three-year tour.
After the Navy, Roeder resumed his pursuit of a career in the life-insurance business. He met and married Eileen and they had three daughters. Through the years, David moved up in the company and eventually headed a general agency in Madison, Wisconsin. He had to put up his own money to start the business, and he put in a lot of work in recruiting, training, and developing the agency. He was responsible for all of southern Wisconsin outside of metropolitan Milwaukee. This was a dream job for David and he was very successful, but after five years, he began to feel dissatisfied.
Eileen also noticed that David wasn't quite the same. Though he was making great money, he made the decision to give up his job and go back to being a life-insurance agent who was responsible only for his own sales.
Since their children had grown up and moved out, the couple felt their home was too big for the two of them. They bought nearly five acres in Spring Green, Wisconsin, which is about 40 miles outside of Madison. They found the community to be really friendly and filled with people involved in the arts. Because they didn't want to spend the entire weekend mowing the lawn, they created a beautiful prairie on part of their land. David designed their home and included a workshop for his woodworking hobby. He and Eileen named their house "Tranquility."
One day David spotted a handmade cedar strip canoe in a friend's backyard. He had never seen one before and really appreciated the quality of the woodworking. He figured he could make one, so built one for himself. He soon built another one and swapped it for a shotgun. A third canoe was traded for a dining-room table. On a friend's advice David entered an art fair and made some sales there. Before he knew it, he had a new business on his hands.
He now makes five models of canoes, though he's steadfastly refused to add other products such as kayaks. Eileen soon joined him in the canoe business, and besides managing the money, she also hand-canes the seats. It's a very labor-intensive business. Only two canoes are in production at a time, and it takes a year or more to finish one.
David works on the canoes on his own time and as much as he enjoys building them, he basically shuts down in the fall so he can hunt pheasants and ducks. About three years ago, he completely stopped selling insurance, and he and Eileen now live off the money generated by the canoe sales and their savings.
Eileen has noticed a big change in David since he's changed careers, and the two now spend a lot of time together and with their children. There really isn't much of a downside for the Roeders. Sometimes they might have to postpone a trip for lack of funds, but the good life to David is enjoying every day, having good health and contributing to society. For Eileen it's waking up and seeing the face that she loves and the beautiful land.
Guests Eileen and David Roeder
Owners, Tranquility Canoes
Phone: 608-588-7352
Fax: 608-588-9352
Email:
tranqlty@execpc.com
URL:
www.tranquilitycanoes.com
Also in this Episode
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