Making A House A Home: Oberg Redoes “Roof Rescue” Winner

(KNSI) – When Oberg Roofing began its annual program to help a homeowner in need, they couldn’t have imagined finding a better applicant than Jean Studniski and Bradley Olson.

Caleb Oberg was on hand for a full-day project on Monday at the couple’s Avon home, during which his company rebuilt their roof from the rafters up. Oberg says the they have tried two years in a row to get selected, which is important to him.

“One, it was a really good candidate for rescuing a roof. You could tell immediately, being the fact that it was covered with tarps. I think beyond that, great story about the family, and this is their second year trying for the roof rescue. So that, too, tells me that, you know, they’re coming back for it. They want it. They need it.”

Tarps had been placed over holes where shingles once were. Water had gotten inside and rotted out much of the wood underneath.

Olson spoke with KNSI News, expressing gratitude for the community support that got him selected as the winner.

“I worked for the postal office and lived at the address here for about 30 years, and I just want to thank everybody that voted us to get our roof done, because it needed it. I didn’t know how bad it is.”

Olson said he had taken to hoping there wouldn’t be heavy rain that would overwhelm the patchwork protections they had put in place.

Staff at Oberg Roofing had 15 applications to choose from. Sales Manager Zack Goldstein says everyone is involved in whittling down the options to three finalists.

“We get all the submissions, and as a company, we decide on the top three, so to speak. And then from there, we come up with a panel — members of the community. And they make the final decision on the home that should get the reward.”

The community panel has included St. Cloud Mayor Dave Kleis and members of Leighton Broadcasting, among many others. The job doesn’t get any easier when the veterans’ winner is chosen.

Caleb Oberg says that competition already has more entrants. Employees love doing it, though. Goldstein describes the work as emotional, but meaningful.

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