Family bus company stays all in the family

In these days of corporate mergers, shutdowns and layoffs, this stable family business will remain all in the family — with no cutbacks either, said Bruce Reinke on Monday, who owned Voyageur Charter with his wife, Jean.

In fact, the new proprietor, Bruce’s brother, Brian Reinke, 47, is 16 years his junior “with more energy than me,” said Bruce. Brian said he has plans to incrementally increase service, starting with a website and eventually more overnight charters to casinos, Twins games, concerts, the Minnesota State Fair, Mall of America, Chanhassen Dinner Theater or whatever event or place enough Borderland residents want to see.

“He’s always wanted to eventually buy it,” Bruce Reinke said of his brother, who worked for the bus company for six years more than two decades ago before moving back to their hometown of Rhinelander City, Wis. “Keeping it in the family is definitely the best.

“It’s been a good business to us, and it will treat him well, too. I think we have a pretty good reputation in town. And, hopefully, once his boys have children, they’ll be able to pass it along to them.”

First off, the new owners said they are considering expanding the company’s popular annual trip to Branson, Mo., and add service to the Black Hills, S.D., and Mt. Rushmore.

The 13-employee, nine-bus company also provides the International Falls school district with four routes as well as charters for the general public, seniors and clubs. It averages about 30 bookings a month, Bruce Reinke said. Voyageur Charter also is able to transport Fort Frances and other Ontario residents, typically for ski and curling trips, he said. Bruce, Jean and Brian Reinke all drive.

In town, the company makes eight trips daily for students during the school year, plus sports and other extracurriculars, he said.

The school district has some buses. However, Voyageur Charter is the only private bus company for 100 miles and had the school contract since the start.

The family did not provide the company’s price tag. Voyageur Charter’s fleet is made up of four motor coaches that seat between 47 and 57 people each and five school buses that carry up to 70 students apiece.

“We’re excited we’re trying to build it up more than it is and provide the same type service,” Brian Reinke said. “It’s a well-established business. Our goal is to keep it running smoothly and expand and offer a few more things for the community to do.”

He said for instance, although the senior center offers monthly casino jaunts, people are always asking for more.

During a vacation here three-plus decades ago, Bruce Reinke said, the young couple fell in love with International Falls and were looking to be business owners. They decided to buy two buses for sale and a corner grocery store, now called Rogers Corner, the latter they’ve since sold.

Instead, they focused on growing the bus company, he said, including adding a 9,000-square-foot working garage with heated bays.

Now Brian Reinke is encouraging the public to provide he and his wife, Lisa, with trip ideas either online at their brand-new website, www.voyageurcharter.com, or by calling the garage, 3510 County Road 97, at 377-4343.

For a trip to occur, typically at least 25 passengers are needed. Brian Reinke said he plans to start offering new trip options in the next couple months.

“There’s all kinds of stuff to do in Minnesota,” Brian Reinke said of the all-inclusive packages with activity itineraries and time for spontaneity. “And there are no other tour companies up here offering that. I’m really hoping these tours take off like they should.”

The new owners said they hope to add a new/used charter diesel bus, which can run in the $500,000 range, in the next few years.

Brian and Lisa Reinke’s sons, Tyler and Brandon Reinke, are in their 20s and have mechanical and managerial experience. They recently followed their parents to International Falls to help carry on the transportation tradition.

For the foreseeable future, their father also will keep his current job at Friends Garbage Service, he said.

Running one’s own business is notoriously difficult with excruciating hours and the headaches of ultimate responsibility — along with the rewards of meeting people and professional autonomy.

“It’s been 34 years, and we’ve enjoyed it for 34 years. It’s just time to slow down,” said Bruce Reinke, who hasn’t had a vacation except for those Branson trips with his wife.

“I’ve seen and done a lot of things I never would have been able to do otherwise,” he added.

Officially, the elder Reinke will have his last day next week, he said, while Jean Reinke stays on for another year to assist with the transition.

When asked if he has any memorable stories, he said luckily no since that usually means trouble. The family prides themselves on Voyageur Charter’s reputation and well-maintained and clean buses.

About the only crisis, if it could be called that, he could think of was losing heat on a cold day during a long jaunt. Even then, another one of his buses continued the trip, he said.

Bruce and Jean Reinke said they always delivered their passengers on time.

The closest he could recall was a rare breakdown during a swim team’s ride to Aurora. The kids missed warm ups but not the meet.

In their history, their school buses also were involved in only three minor traffic incidents with no injuries.

About the most-amusing event Jean Reinke could recall was when a girl remembered to wear her heavy winter coat to school, but forgot the dress underneath that schools required about 25 years ago. It was dealt with discreetly.

So what do their plans include for retirement? Daughters, grandchildren, a riverfront home, bowling, snowmobiling and fishing mostly.

“I’ve been so busy I haven’t even been able to buy a fishing license in 10 years I think, and I maybe went snowmobiling two or three times,” Bruce Reinke said. “I’m not a couch potato by a long shot.

“It will be nice after all those years of pressure to be able to sit back and relax and not have to worry about anything anymore,” he said. “If they need a driver, though, I’m a phone call away.”