TOM CLUSIAU’S CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP GMC did not always go by this name.
CLUSIAU SALES AND RENTAL SERVICE INC. was founded in 1957 by Arthur Francis (Bud) Clusiau, Lucille Hursch Clusiau and Bjarne Aanes from Hibbing, Minnesota.
Arthur (Bud) Clusiau was raised in Cohasset, the son of Arthur Charles Clusiau, who owned the livery stable and stagecoach station.
Bud worked for Gildemeister Motors until opening his own dealership in downtown Hibbing, Minnesota in 1946.
Young David (24 yrs.old) owned and operated a Ford/Edsel Dealership and a wrecker service in Pine City, Minnesota. In 1959 he moved his family to Grand Rapids where he became President of Clusiau Sales and Rental Service Inc. David was 26 years old.
Over the years, many franchises came and stayed (Chrysler, Dodge, RAM, Jeep, GMC) and many franchises went (Simca, Austin Martin, Austin Healey, Triumph, Imperial, Plymouth, Eagle, Crossfire, Volkswagen, Motoski Snowmobiles).
In 1968, David Clusiau Sr. built a new dealership where we currently reside today.
On May 01, 1969, the Corporations Name, CLUSIAU SALES AND RENTAL SERVICE INC. was legally changed to CLUSIAU SALES AND RENTAL INC.
In 1974, Arthur David (Dave) Clusiau Jr. started working for Clusiau Sales and Rental Inc. and in 1976 Thomas Alan Clusiau (whew, no Arthur in that name) joined the two of them fresh out of college. The three worked together until 1990 when Dave Sr. elected to retire, and in 1991 Dave Jr. decided to also leave.
In 1991, Thomas Clusiau purchased the business shares of both David Clusiau Sr. and David Clusiau Jr. and in 1974 veteran sales professional Bud “Laverne” Stone started to advertise the dealership as TOM CLUSIAU’S CHRYSLER DODGE JEEP GMC The name stuck, and this is what we still call ourselves today.
In June of 2007, TOM CLUSIAU’S CHRYSLER DODGE RAM JEEP GMC moved into a greatly expanded and extensively remodeled state of the art dealership where we reside today.
In 2007, Kellie (daughter of Dave Clusiau Jr.) Wohlers joined her husband, General Manager Pete Wohlers, as Comptroller of both TOM CLUSIAU’S CHRYSLER DODGE RAM JEEP GMC and TOM CLUSIAU’S WALKER FORD, which was also acquired in May 2007. Kellie (Clusiau) Wohlers became the 4th generation of Clusiaus to be working in this dealership.
In 2010, Michael Clusiau (son of Thomas Clusiau) became the second 4th generation of Clusiaus to work in this dealership. Michael came to us with a Marketing & Business Degree and became our first Internet and Marketing Manager we have ever had. He has been a huge factor in our success in launching our newest Internet Website that we use today and are very proud of.
Arthur (Bud) Clusiau – Deceased 1986
Arthur David (Dave) Clusiau- Deceased 2005
History was written by Thomas Clusiau, owner of TOM CLUSIAUS CHRYSLER, DODGE, RAM, JEEP, GMC
TOM CLUSIAUS WALKER FORD and TOM CLUSIAUS NASHWAUK AUTO SALES.
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