An interview with Joe Isenberg

When did your association with Honest Abe begin and in what capacity? 

My love for log homes began in July of 1980. I began working for Green Forest Wood Products. My first job was building a garage beside Doug and Janie Smith’s log home. My next project was building a log home on the Smith farm. Doug’s nephew Mark Carlisle lived there for several years.

With all that experience under my belt, Roger West, Jack Pickett and I went on the road to Kingston Springs, Tennessee. In January of 1982 we framed our first dry-in job. Apparently it didn’t turn out too well! Doug said he didn’t want to continue with it. He gave me a marvelous opportunity to go with it on my own. Roger West and I decided to team up and start building houses.

We began constructing a big house in Mt. Juliet, Tennessee. We hired two more men to work with us. By the time that job was finished, we had a couple more jobs lined up. After one year, we had so much work to do that Roger and I split up and formed two crews. We really had it going on! We couldn’t afford to get motel rooms, so we just camped out at the job sites.

How has building log and timber homes changed as time has passed?

During the ’80s and ’90s, most of the houses were four-cornered with a truss roof. With this style of houses, we could build 40 plus houses per year! The houses today are much more complicated.

What was your most memorable experience with building a home or building for HA? 

I guess the most memorable experience that I had during those years was when Doug and Janie, Rick and Wanda Denton, and Anna and I decided to build us a cabin in the mountains of Gatlinburg. We all bought a lot in the Cobbly Nob area. All three were close together. As a matter of fact Doug’s and Rick’s were side by side, and there was one lot between Rick’s lot and ours. We picked our design and started construction. In a short time we had Rick’s house, and our house framed up with felt on them. We started building Doug’s house and almost had the roof on it when a stranger appeared. He told us, “We have a problem.” He said all three of these houses are on the wrong lots. After several months and a few lawyers, we got everything worked out.

What are you going to do in retirement?

My greatest regret is during the time that I was on the road, I missed my three daughters growing up. My wife, Anna, did a great job with them. After building 600 houses, I plan to go home, play on the farm, and spend more time with my sweet wife and family!

Are there any parting words you would like to share about your time withHonest Abe in particular?

It has been a great experience working with the Honest Abe Company. I am sure that I will miss being with these great people. Honest Abe has been an amazing company to work with through the years. I will miss everyone, but I think I can adjust!

Memories of Joe

by April Smith Patterson
 
Joe When we first started with our home the first person we took to the plot of land to get his opinion was Joe. I grew up best friends with his daughter, Ashlee. Spending the night or hanging out at their home was one of my most favorite places in the world! I have the best memories there. Growing up I loved that me and Ashlee (best friends since we were old enough to walk) talked about log homes and how her Dad was here or there building log homes for folks. She had such a sense of pride talking about her Dad and his work… I loved listening to her and even then, at a young age, knew how important Honest Abe was to families. Joe is a legendary builder, the best we likely ever had, and the impact he had on his family and on those who he built for are truly awe inspiring stories. Joe actually built our family log home in Gatlinburg, the same time he was building one for he and his family, and for Rick Denton.
I remember going to the mountains to see the progress and running into Joe and his family there too. He was and is such a family man with a love for what he did in building log homes. That love and passion he had spread through his children too… hence the memories listening to Ashlee talk about what all her Dad was doing while we were growing up. I remember listening to her stories wishing my Dad was making a difference like he was and getting to do all the amazing things I heard her talk about her Dad doing… funny now that I’m older I now realize Dad did make many differences too. But the passion she had for sharing her Dad’s story stuck with me and still does today… Joe cared and loved what he did and that showed through his family. They are the pinnacle of one of the reasons why Honest Abe is so important and has been so successful… with the character and ethics Joe has shown throughout his career was a reason Honest Abe grew and was successful. It takes a team and Joe was definitely one of those essential pieces to our puzzle here at Honest Abe. 
Nick’s always thought a lot of Joe… his Dad, Randy too. Most times when we go visit his family in Alabama his Dad always asks about Joe and how good of a man he is. I love how Joe has touched so many lives, even those he hasn’t known very long. I think this is a testimony to him and his character in itself. Nick mentioned Joe is one of those people who doesn’t say a whole lot but when he does you listen, particularly when it comes to log homes and building in general. We got advise from Joe on our log home from the beginning… he was one of the first we showed the plans too on the property we were planning to build taking in all his wise council. The photo above is of Joe and Nick reviewing the plans for our home.
We hate to see him retire (again) but are wishing him the most blessed and happy retirements. He’s made so many dreams of log home living a reality and we are so proud he now can live out one of his dreams in living blissfully with his lovely wife farming and doing what he loves best. 

Leaving a Legacy

by Rick Denton
 

I cannot think of Honest Abe without thinking of Joe Isenberg. He’s one of my very best friends through our working together so many years. I didn’t know him before he chose to come work for us nearly four decades ago. Over these many years, Joe has become part of my family. It seems there is nothing we haven’t shared together: countless beautiful structures, more than a few construction misfortunes, nearly impossible-to-build designs, horrible job sites, imaginative new construction ideas and extensive new products.

Back when he started, he didn’t like working inside our plant. He wanted outside work similar to the contract masonry work he was used to. He pioneered and remained loyal and dedicated to our dry-in labor construction program through its infancy and beyond, until it became an admired and respected industry-wide model. His wisdom, imagination and unwavering work ethic resulted in so much of what Honest Abe came to be known for.

We’re so fortunate and blessed that he chose to work for us many years ago and spent his career here. For almost four decades, he has shown his loyalty and dedication thought countless sacrifices and untold contributions.

I want to wish him the best in his retirement from Honest Abe. I know he will not retire from work because I know him. He told me he likes to think of it as “just changing jobs.”

Congratulations, Joe, upon the legacy you are leaving behind at Honest Abe.

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