~ Sent to us by Allan Knepper
I bought my Willys on eBay in 2013 and had an awesome road trip to Red Canyon Ranch outside Lander, Wyoming in 2014 to pick it up. However, I didn’t get to do much with it since we were part of a caregiver team for my mother, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 101. In 2019, our grandson Leo Hutchins was born. We decided to make the Willys roadworthy for his “rides with grandma and grandpa.” Unfortunately, my wife Barbara was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, and we lost her after a 3-year battle in 2022.
Now, Leo and I are finally using the Willys for slow trips around the neighborhood, as well as trips down over the hill in the backyard. Leo is totally into all things internal combustion – cars, trucks, tractors, and construction equipment. We are shown learning under the hood in the picture. I get to point to something, he names it, and we talk about what it does… and there will be another quiz on his next visit. The other picture is from last year’s Rock River Thresheree event in Wisconsin. Despite all the tractors and machinery, Leo’s favorite thing was the military vehicle collectors’ display!
The last picture shows the original look of the Willys when I got it home. It was originally an Oregon Forestry Department vehicle, and then it was part of a donation to the Nature Conservancy’s ranch in Wyoming. Because of this history, it was relatively rust-free compared to all our salt-ravaged stuff here in the Midwest. We got the brakes functioning, the starter redone, and the gas tank refurbished. However, our grandson Leo reminds me during every joy ride that I have a cracked windshield, so we will be ordering a new one with weatherstrip soon! My goal is to keep Leo’s attention on real stuff like the Willys before he gets into full-time electronic devices and social media. Wish me luck!
- Allan Knepper Kaiser Willys Jeep Blog Story – If you would like to share your Willys Jeep Story please send us a line. We’d love to meet your Jeep.
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Your story “Passing the Love of the Willys” is very possibly the most beautiful and inspiring stories I have read.
I bought my Willys as a tribute to my father, A proud USMC soldier in WWII. While I did not have a son to pass on their grandfathers stories and history to, I do have 3 grandsons.
Every summer for one week the four of us are off-reading and exploring the backroads of the Eastern Sierra.
My Willys thru my father, have allowed me to share my love of the Willys, America, the environment, wildlife, camping, backpacking, exploring and of course…my father.
Your pictures are beautiful and in my heart are what America is all about.
Thank you and bless you for sharing.
Allison
What a beautiful story. The best thing we can leave our grandkids is the legacy of old jeeps and the knowledge of internal combustion engines!!!
Absolutely wonderful!
Bless you. With your guidance and the jeep experience, he will grow into a fine man.
Way to go grandpa! Starting your grandson off teaching him one of life’s many skills! I to have my 9 year old grandson helping me on my 1951 Willy’s wagon! Creating memories!