Jim Laubach was a hands-on entrepreneur – literally.

As a teenager in 1958, he began making coin holders in his grandfather’s basement from scrap acrylic bought from an aircraft surplus warehouse. The money he made from selling the holders to peers and local coin shops soon amounted to more than what some of his schoolteachers were making.

Jim Laubach, Century Manufacturing (asi/44460)

In this enterprising effort, the seeds of Century Manufacturing (asi/44460), the Bel Aire, KS-based supplier Laubach would go on to found, were sown – and with them, the roots of a more than 50-year career in the promotional products industry.

Following his passing on March 29 from cancer, Laubach will be remembered for his entrepreneurial acumen that made Century a success, loved ones say. But as importantly, he’ll also be remembered by family and friends for the tremendous personal impacts he had on their lives.

“Jim touched the lives of countless people through his generosity, determination and sense of humor,” an obituary read. “He will be forever missed by all that know and love him.”

Shortly before Laubach’s passing, Century Manufacturing was sold to Garry Kemnitz, who’s been with the company for nearly 50 years. Kemnitz had been serving as company president for about 25 years. He and Laubach were more than just colleagues; they were friends. “Lunches with Garry” is mentioned as being among Laubach’s favorite activities in his obituary.

Another of Laubach’s loves was figuring out how things worked. That good-natured curiosity drove his early-days coin holder building. It also helped propel him in business.

After he graduated high school, he started making clocks and paperweights. By the early 1970s, he’d invested in raw acrylic and the equipment needed to embed coins into various shapes.

“Immediately, requests for customizations and imprints came in, which moved the company from retail gifts into advertising specialty items,” a company biography said.

These days, Century Manufacturing makes Lucite embedments, corporate/custom awards, point of purchase displays, plaques, signage, wooden awards and bases, and tombstone awards, according to the company website. It’s all part of Laubach’s legacy.

“A self-made man, Jim grew this business into a large and thriving company…creating and distributing Lucite acrylic products nationally and worldwide,” the obituary read.

Laubach is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Sharon, as well as two daughters, five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. A funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Central Christian Church Chapel in Wichita, KS, at 1:30 p.m. A graveside service will follow at 4:00 p.m. at Kensington Gardens, also in Wichita.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Laubach’s name can be made to The Wichita Historical Museum and Botanica.