John Honerkamp started his career at Ranken in 1936, graduated from Refrigeration in 1938, came back to night school to study architectural drawing, and he’d come back again if he could. Since then, John moved to Piedmont, South Dakota where he designed, built, owned and managed the Covered Wagon Resort from 1945 until 1973. John states “I am very thankful for the education that I got at Ranken.” Now in a wheelchair, he recalls his life at Ranken and a career as a resort owner in the Black Hills of South Dakota where he resides.
John worked for a neighbor who became a father figure to him after his father had deserted the family in 1929. Through that neighbor, John was introduced to David Ranken, Jr. School of Mechanical Trades and his life forever. “Faculty took me in like a son. The school changed my life. My dad had left and I was mad at the world. Ranken offered me something that turned my life around. I was 16 at the time and tuition was $35 a year. I just loved it. I couldn’t wait to get there and I hated to go home at night.”
John recalls, “I started in 1936 in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning and then night school in Architecture. Mr. Reese, the instructor, and I became great friends. He helped me out a lot when I was having trouble.” John states “I had a great respect for instructors at Ranken. They were willing to help move me along and wanted students to succeed. I needed the structure. Instructors were strict but we all needed it. I still have my Ranken diploma hanging on the wall. I wish my grandson had it to go to in South Dakota.” John built several homes in St. Louis, and then joined the Naval Construction Battalion. For the next few years, he built timber bridges and piers in the Pacific Islands for three years during WW2.
After his stint in the Navy, John married Marie and moved to South Dakota. John spent time in the construction trade building homes and schools all the while planning his resort. Finally, in 1945, John designed and built then maintained, and managed The Covered Wagon Resort. He and Marie worked together as a team in all positions running the resort 365 days a year. The resort grew into an 85 acre complex with a motel, three campgrounds, a mobile home park, laundry, café and lodge. The resort held as many as 300 guests a night, was the 1st privately owned campground and the 1st with a heated and filtered pool in South Dakota. For 28 years, the resort was a leading family vacation destination. He and the Covered Wagon Resort are members of the Pioneer Hall of Fame in South Dakota. With children grown and little interest in the business, John sold the resort in 1973.
In addition to running the resort, in 1950 John designed and built the Piedmont Auditorium and the Piedmont Fire Department. Through the winter months while maintaining the resort, he designed and built a number of homes in the area. He credits the classes he took in architecture as the most helpful in his years in construction.
After turning 89 this year, John likes to relax and enjoy his family. John has eight children, 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. John and Marie have been married for 61 years and are both doing fine. John has not been back to the St. Louis area in many years but continues to support Ranken through an annual donation to the Fund for Ranken.
