Schreinerei Gschwend Tägerwilen AG

The history of the Gschwend carpentry workshop began at the Weisser carpentry workshop in Kreuzlingen. "This is where our father completed his carpentry apprenticeship and worked alongside Walter Engweiler, who would go on to play a significant role in our father's professional career," explains Hansruedi Gschwend. Shortly afterwards, Engweiler set up his own business in "Häldeli," where he built a chalet with an adjoining carpentry workshop. Initially, he made watch cases for various watch manufacturers, but soon received requests for carpentry work on new buildings, furniture production, and repairs.

Growing responsibilities

"After his apprenticeship, our father was able to join Walter Engweiler – he was his first employee," says Hansruedi Gschwend, "and a great friendship developed between the two. Unfortunately, Mr. Engweiler developed health problems and had to spend a lot of time in the hospital." As the number of employees had increased in the meantime, Hermann Gschwend had to take on more and more tasks and continue to run the business during his boss's absence. "As a result, our father became familiar with all business tasks at an early age. In 1962, he was offered the opportunity to take over the prison carpentry workshop in Tobel. He always said that he was excited by this challenge. However, his boss, Walter Engweiler, was not very enthusiastic. Due to his health situation, he finally offered our father the opportunity to take over his carpentry workshop in "Häldeli," which our parents did in 1963."

A big step

At the time, the decision was a big step, recalls Hansruedi Gschwend from his parents' stories. "But despite the skepticism of the villagers, they tackled the challenge and turned the small business into a medium-sized company." In addition to looking after their five children and the household, mother Milly took care of the administrative tasks, while father Hermann often worked late into the night. "He was simply a carpenter with heart and soul."

The economic boom came at the right time, and the many orders required more workers. "At peak times, our father employed up to 15 people," says Hansruedi Gschwend.

With success came the first stroke of fate for the Gschwend family. "In 1979, at the ripe old age of 50, our father died of a heart attack – an immeasurable loss for us and the carpentry business," says Hansruedi Gschwend. "But his kindness and amiability are still remembered today."

Brothers carry on

His brother Hermann, also a trained carpenter, was already working in their parents' business at the time. Hansruedi himself was still in the middle of his training at the former Ammann carpentry workshop. "Hermann then took over the management and continued to run the business with the help of our mother. After completing my training, I joined the company too."

In 2004, the family suffered another blow. "My brother fell seriously ill and died in September 2006 at the age of 52."

Hansruedi Gschwend has been running the carpentry business on his own ever since. Today, he is proud to report that the third generation—his two sons, Patrick and Michael—have learned the carpentry trade and are now working in the family business.