“Like most farm boys, Keith Gerisch learned to fix whatever needed fixing,” said Luke Dumler, McElroy’s plumbing service manager. “He brought in a wide range of mechanical knowledge and has grown as a plumber, rounding out his abilities. Whatever the challenge, Keith steps up and helps out. He gets in and gets it done.” We’re honoring Keith Gerisch, McElroy’s plumber, for his 10^th McElroy’s anniversary on October 26, 2025. We appreciate Keith for being a hard-working problem solver!

Trade Skills

The farm Keith grew up on was near Overbrook, Kansas. His cousins had a large farm nearby where Keith also helped out. “I enjoyed repairing equipment, so I took shop and welding classes in high school,” Keith said. “I completed the automotive program at Washburn Tech, but it turned out that line of work didn’t appeal to me so much.” Family friends had a framing and remodeling business, and Keith went to work with them. “I sharpened my skills, but it didn’t pay well. I didn’t see a future there.”

Plumbing Helper

Another family friend, Zoe Bock, worked as the plumbing dispatcher for McElroy’s. She told Keith that McElroy’s was looking for an entry-level helper in plumbing service, and said he should apply. Keith’s father knew of McElroy’s through his mechanical maintenance job with KPL, and agreed the opportunity would be good for Keith. “I got the position and worked as both a helper and delivery driver for a couple of years,” Keith said. “I grew to know and like plumbing, so I joined the union to advance my career.”

EcoFlow

“When I began my plumbing and pipefitting apprenticeship with McElroy’s, I worked on a major industrial-facility construction project,” Keith said. “It was a huge job with long hours, nearly every day, for six months. I learned a lot quickly!” When it was done, Keith moved to the plumbing service side of McElroy’s where he was involved in the multi-year EcoFlow project for the city of Lawrence, Kansas. The program helped homeowners in older neighborhoods reduce the amount of rainwater that went into the city’s aging sanitary sewer system. “Shawn O’Malley and I did sump-pump and wastewater piping repairs and renovations at hundreds of Lawrence homes,” Keith said. “We got really good at that!”

Thorough Diagnostics

“When you’re fixing plumbing issues, every situation is different. The EcoFlow project had the same goal everywhere – stopping rainwater/sewer-water cross-contamination. But the solution at each home was its own special case,” said Shawn O’Malley, McElroy’s service plumber, who now serves as the company safety specialist. “Keith doesn’t jump the gun by throwing in parts. He does thorough diagnostic work, examining the details, until arriving at an individualized resolution. Afterwards, we’d wind down at the Lawrence Dairy Queen. Keith loves his ice cream!”

Big Pipes

“One of my specialties has become large-scale pipe projects, like major water lines, fire mains and sewer lines,” Keith said. “When you’re working with heavy pipe, especially with high water pressure, it has to be well built with very tight joints. I also like seeing the end product. Big-piping projects can look impressive. When it’s a major cleanout operation, and you’re running a camera through, the difference between clogged and wide-open looks dramatic!”

Jetter

“Keith and I often clean pipes together with our trailer-mounted jetter. It forces 4,000-psi jets of water into clogged pipes, which dislodges and flushes away obstructions like grease, sludge, roots, and other debris,” said McElroy’s plumber James King. “Keith mans the controls and video-screen while I guide the business end. With that super-high pressure, it’s dangerous if you aren’t focused together. We’ve done so many jetter jobs, we mind-read each other!” With his life-long mechanical abilities, Keith also maintains the jetter equipment. He changes the oil and replaces any bad valves or leaky fittings to keep it running safely and with top performance.

Residential Satisfaction

Lately, Keith has been doing a larger percentage of residential service plumbing. “Working on drains, faucets, toilets and so on may not seem as interesting as the big-pipe projects, but it’s fulfilling in its own way,” Keith said. “Homeowners and their families can be very appreciative when you get their hot water flowing again, so they can take a comfortable shower! I also love it when I’m called in for a problem that another company – or two! – couldn’t figure out. When I’m able to fix what others couldn’t, the customer is thrilled.”

Growing Family

Keith and his fiancé, Cheyenne, live in Overbrook. Cheyenne volunteers on the Overbrook Fair Board and is a stay-at-home mom for their three children: Jay, age 6, Wyatt, 4 and Steven, almost 2. Twins are expected after Thanksgiving! The family enjoys kid-based activities like the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, the zoos in Topeka and Kansas City, Legoland, and simply playing outside. “We like off-roading and side-by-sides,” Keith said. “I tinker with vehicles and work on things around the house. When I have some time, I enjoy video strategy and role-playing games.”

Partnership Approach

“Sometimes in plumbing, you need to do a quick fix to stabilize the situation and get things working again – but the complete solution is more complex,” said Keith. “I explain options to customers and offer my best recommendation. We can move forward according to their time and budget needs. That’s a partnership way of fixing things that people appreciate!” We at McElroy’s appreciate Keith Gerisch for his level-headed method of providing plumbing service. Keith is a terrific example of someone who brought a natural mechanical skillset to McElroy’s and has learned and grown into an excellent plumber. We thank Keith for his first decade on our team, and we look forward to his continuing contributions!