Lakes Gas acquires Blackhawk Propane

Lakes Gas, headquartered in Wyoming, Minnesota, purchased the propane operations of Blackhawk Propane in South Beloit, Illinois.

Blackhawk Propane sells and delivers propane to residential, agriculture and commercial customers in 10 counties in northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. The company was founded in 1982 by Bob Zeek Sr. and Bob Zeek Jr., who were also in the welding supply business. Bob Zeek Jr. has served as president since the death of his father. His mother, Ann, manages the office. Like Lakes Gas, Blackhawk Propane has focused on providing local service in the communities they serve.

“We are grateful to be associated with Blackhawk Propane, and with Bob and Ann,” says Lakes Gas CEO Trent Hampton. “We intend to honor the legacy of the Zeek family as we do the Sargeant family’s history at Lakes Gas. And we are very excited to extend our footprint into northern Illinois and the southern tier of counties in Wisconsin.”

“We are pleased to join forces with Lakes Gas,” says Bob Zeek Jr. “It was a difficult decision to sell, but Trent and the Lakes Gas team have been great to work with.”

Lakes Gas is among the Top 20 U.S. propane retailers for sales of retail gallons, according to the 2022 LP Gas Top Propane Retailers ranking. With this acquisition, it operates in six states, including North Dakota, South Dakota and Michigan.

Featured homepage image: designer491/iStock / Getty Images Plus/Getty Images