MANSFIELD, Ohio — For half a century, the Beougher family has helped bring a smile to families’ faces while cruising throughout the area in one of their ice cream trucks.
The late George and Kathy Beougher started selling sandwiches and soft-serve ice cream in 1965 from a Mister Softee ice cream truck in Fort Wayne, Indiana. They relocated to Mt. Vernon in 1970 and served the north central Ohio area.
“Dad was the best. The kids loved him,” said owner of Joy Wagon III, Inc. Tim Beougher, of his father, George.
The Beoughers later started their own mobile ice cream service under the name, “Joy Wagon.”
Beougher said his parents were inspired by the biblical verse which says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength,” when naming the business.
“They wanted to spread joy and saw ice cream as a way of doing just that,” he said. “Sometimes, we may be the only bright spot in a kid’s day.”
Beougher and his sister got involved in the family business at a young age. They both currently operate their own mobile ice cream services, Joy Wagon II (operated by Beougher’s sister) and Joy Wagon III (operated by Beougher and his wife).
At one point, the Beougher family had nine trucks in operation and have since downsized. Joy Wagon II has one truck and Joy Wagon III has three trucks, two of which are operating.
Beougher noted, “We’ve gone 50 years without having any incidents. We’re very, very concerned about safety.”
One of the elements of the family business that’s remained the same over the years is the jingle.
“There are times I turn it off and I still hear it,” Beougher joked, adding, “It’s a sound that gets people excited, though.” And it’s very unique, he said.
Beougher, who started the Joy Wagon III company about 15 years ago, said that it is typically in service from mid-April through the beginning of October. They run throughout neighborhoods in north central Ohio and also regularly run some large venues.
He noted that they also serve at birthday parties, corporate gatherings and other events. To book them for an event, or for more information, call 419-566-7629.
They sell a variety of prepackaged ice cream specialties, including Good Humor, Popsicle, North Star and more.
“On the side of the truck it says we sell fun and that’s really what we do: we try to provide a fun atmosphere and experience for these kids,” said Beougher.
He tries to bring a smile to the children’s faces with some slapstick humor and good, clean fun.
“Can I have a fudge bar?” a little girl asked.
“You’re not fudging me, are ya?” Beougher responded.
“The kids like to come up for the experience that they get from buying ice cream from us,” he said.
There’s no foreseeable end to the business, Beougher said, as long as he’s able to find work in the offseason, which he’s been able to do.
“This is something I just love doing,” he said, while smiling and waving to children from inside his ice cream truck.
“I run into grandparents that were served by my dad who remember Joy Wagon clear back in the 1970s, so we’ve served three generations, he said.
“It would be hard to give this business up because it’s been in the family for this many years. There’s a lot of sentimental value.”
