Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer

(Photo by Deb Malewski – Left to Right: Dave Pennell, Jody Riske, George Chemacki, and Raymond Charles.)

After 51 years of selling and servicing campers and trailers, cousins George Chemacki and Dave Pennell are officially hanging up their tools and heading into a well-earned retirement. Their long-running business, P&K RV, located at 2334 South Michigan Road just north of Eaton Rapids, has been a familiar stop for RV enthusiasts for decades.

Their departure paves the way for a new chapter at the site. Raymond Charles, owner of Island City Auto Body LLC, plans to move his operation to the P&K location later this fall. Charles’s current shop is based in the South Industrial Complex off Kinneville Road in Eaton Rapids, where he’s been since 2014.

In an interesting twist of local business history, P&K RV actually began in the 1970s as an auto body shop, competing with Charles’s father, who ran an auto body business in the area. Now things have come full circle.

Charles, who owns additional locations in Marshall, Holt, Fowlerville, Mount Pleasant, and Battle Creek, intends to renovate the site and add a used car lot alongside his auto body work, another step in expanding his growing business.

The RV side of the story began in the mid-1970s, when Dave Pennell and his brother Ron teamed up with Kitsmiller RV. As the business flourished, George Chemacki came on board, eventually buying out Ron’s share. Though they considered changing the name, they decided that paperwork involved in dropping the “K” for Kitsmiller was too much hassle—so the P&K name stuck.

Their customer base has stuck around too. “Some of them have been with us for over 20 years,” Pennell said. “Many have bought more than one trailer from us. You treat people right. That is what we do and always have.”

Long time customers, Joy and Steve Ketchum, have purchased three campers from P&K RV over the years. “They have always gone above and beyond to help us in any way. We will not only miss their service, but their friendship most of all,” they said.

The pandemic marked the beginning of their slowdown. Forced to close temporarily, they realized it no longer made sense for both of them to work full-time at the shop. Before that, they usually logged over 40 hours a week at the shop.

“Now, I just want to relax and be a bum for a while,” Chemacki laughed. “Just kick back and enjoy life.” Pennell is still deciding on what is next for him.

An integral part of the P&K RV story is Jody Riske, who has been with the company for 23 years. Known for her versatility, she handles sales, repairs, estimates, and always greets customers with a smile, Chemacki pointed out. She will not be retiring with her coworkers.

“We have been lucky to have her,” said both Chemacki and Pennell. “We have met so many great people and made lifelong friends. Thank you for the business, and the memories for 51 years!”