Celebrating 75 years The Giza family will be observing the 75th anniversary of the Giza Plumbing and Heating business on Friday, August 21, with an open house in the afternoon at the shop. From left are third generation owners Marv and Mary Giza, with son Greg. John Giza started the business in 1934, with his son Harold taking over from him. Marv joined the business in 1970, and Greg came aboard in1995. Currently Marv is not talking about retirement. (Staples World photo by Tom Crawford) One of the older family operated businesses in Staples will soon be celebrating 75 years in business under the same name.

Giza Plumbing and Heating will hold an open house, with coffee and cookies on Friday, Aug. 21.

John Giza moved to Staples in 1934 from Superior, Wisc., and set up a plumbing shop in his garage. In 1945 he moved the shop to Fifth Street. It is still on Fifth Street, now at 115 N. E. Fifth, but it was originally just north, in the Batcher's Backroom building at first. For about 20 years, Giza Plumbing was two doors to the south before moving to the current location in 1971.

John Giza was joined by his son, Harold, in 1946. Harold's son, Marv, joined the business in 1970 (after a stint raising mink). The latest family member and fourth generation to come on board is Greg, who has been working full time since 1995.

"It's neat to be on a site

and have someone point out, 'Your great-grandfather put

that work in.' There is still cast iron pipe in Staples stampled with 'John Giza' on it." Greg said.

The business has changed over the years, keeping up with changes in the trade. They formerly offered Whirlpool and other appliances, but found it difficult to compete with discount stores. Over the years they adapted, learning to sell materials to do it yourself customers when plastic pipe and plastic cement came into use.

Today they are seeing more changes. "We're moving more and more to Green technology," Marv said. "The high efficiency furnaces and heat pumps have taken over. We've seen big changes in recent years, with the heating and air conditioning technology changing fast, probably the biggest changes we've seen in the past 30 or 40 years."

Marv said the future will only see more of the multiple heat sources, combinations of gas and electric, combined with heat pumps.

"Today we like to think we are in the Home Comfort Business," Marv said, a slogan that Greg came up with recently.

They have had varying employment over the years, up to nine or ten at different times. Today the work force includes Marv, Greg, Bryan Reese and Clayton Hagman as full time, with son Mark Giza also working part time. ("I'm the grunt," says the son who decided to become a pilot. Son Matt is a physical therapist at Spencer, Iowa). Marv's wife Mary and Sharon Williams are the accounting and office staff.

Marv and Greg both have their masters plumbing licenses, another change Marv noted he's seen over the years.

"You don't have rapid changes in plumbing, normally, but state codes and regulations are constantly being updated with amendments. Now each shop has to be licensed, with a master plumber in the business. Most people today coming into the field are graduates of a plumbing and heating program."

The Giza family will work on new construction, remodeling and service work. Recent major projects have included the Staples Police station, new heating systems for the Sacred Heart School and church, the new St. John Lutheran Church building in Motley and the Family Dollar Store building in Staples.

How long before Marv decides to relax and turn over the business to Greg? He pointed to a "Hagar the Horrible" cartoon on the wall, with Hagar the Viking suffering from three arrows in his back and being asked why he doesn't just retire and take life easy.

"Not as long as I'm having fun," Hagar answers.