By Dan White – Special to the Sydenham Current
A brief note before I begin: while this is an arts column, a business that served Wallaceburg motorists for more than five decades recently closed, and the family who ran it deserves a nod.
In the waning days of November 2025, a longtime fixture in Wallaceburg quietly exited the town’s business landscape.
Schepens Auto opened on December 1, 1971, when Armand and Vera Schepens purchased a garage on Arnold Street. Just days before the 54th anniversary of that opening, their two sons rolled the garage door down for the final time.
Dave and Mike Schepens grew up outside Wallaceburg on Merwyn Road. When Armand started the business, his eldest son, Mike, joined him as an apprentice mechanic. Dave told me his father was among the best mechanics in town — and Mike followed in those footsteps.
As a teenager, Dave helped out by pumping gas and assisting where needed, but he had other career plans. He left to pursue accounting. However, when Armand passed away in 1986, Dave returned to help his mother and brother run the garage. Vera retired in 1996, and the brothers purchased the business.
Dave apprenticed under Mike and learned the trade. Though he readily admits Mike was the stronger mechanic, after 40 years side by side he considered himself a close second. He describes his older brother as a “tower of strength” — in work ethic, problem-solving ability, and in life. The mutual respect between them is unmistakable.
They were brothers, partners, and friends — and like any close relationship, they occasionally disagreed. When that happened, each retreated to his own bay and buried himself in work. By morning, a solution had usually surfaced. No conflict lasted long.
As regulations tightened, the brothers eventually removed the underground gas tanks rather than continue maintaining them. From then on, their focus remained squarely on service.
They believed in preventative maintenance — encouraging customers to address small issues before they became costly problems. Joni and I experienced that firsthand. Every visit included diagnostics and a careful walk-around to catch concerns early.
People sometimes suspect mechanics of recommending unnecessary work. While a few may deserve that reputation, Dave and Mike certainly did not. They were honest, practical, and customer-focused. Trust was their true currency — and it is increasingly rare.
Dave was often the welcoming face at the front desk, quick with a smile and a story, while Mike worked steadily in the bays. They called customers when service was due, explained what needed immediate attention and what could wait, and if a repair was beyond their scope, they referred clients to someone they trusted.
Now in their late 60s, the physical demands of the job made it time to step away. Sadly, they were unable to find a mechanic to purchase the business.
When I asked Dave what he missed most, he didn’t hesitate: “the people.” Anyone who knows him understands that answer. He also misses the problem-solving — the challenge of diagnosing a stubborn issue. Mike has his farm to keep him busy problem-solving, and Dave has a long-overdue honey-do list.
One story captures who they are. A few years ago, Joni’s car wouldn’t start in the Walmart parking lot, and the alarm wouldn’t stop. She called Schepens. Dave closed the shop and drove over. Someone had backed into the vehicle and triggered the security system. Within minutes, he had her on her way. The charge? A smile and a thank you.
If you see the Schepens brothers around town — perhaps at Glasstown or Sons of Kent — take a moment to say hello. Sit down, share a brew, and listen to a story or two from over five decades of serving Wallaceburg motorists.
Wallaceburg’s service landscape is a little quieter without them — and better for the 54 years they gave it.
One last request: If you have a large, old Samsonite hard-shell suitcase tucked away — or spot one at a thrift store — would you contact me at danlwhite62@gmail.com? I’m building a suitcase drum kit for a high school music program and haven’t been able to find one.
