Wenthold Excavating, LLC has formally entered into a bankruptcy process. With this move, the excavation and earthmoving service provider is hoping to restructure its business while operations continue under court supervision.
Wenthold Excavating, LLC Filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
According to the latest court records on PACER, Wenthold Excavating, LLC made a voluntary Chapter 11 filing on February 9. The petition was submitted by the contractor from Elkhart, Iowa, in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa.
Corey Lorenzen is the company’s authorized representative, with attorney Robert Gainer of Cutler Law Firm PC handling court proceedings.
Company Background
Headquartered in Elkhart, Wenthold Excavating, LLC is an excavation and earthmoving contractor. The company serves the Des Moines Metro Area and surrounding communities, offering excavation, backfilling, street widening, site preparation, grading, trenching, and other earthmoving services.
A few local projects of Wenthold Excavating, LLC include Capital Drive, The Valley West & West Towne Parkway, Nevada Wastewater Treatment Plant, Des Moines Water Works Park Amphitheater, Waterford Road Paving Project, and NW 26th Street widening project in Polk County.
Filings So Far
Filing details show that attorney Robert Gainer submitted a 108-page Chapter 11 petition in the court. Additional information stated in the petition of Wenthold Excavating, LLC is given here:
- Filing Date: February 9, 2026
- Court and Jurisdiction: U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa
- Type of Filing: Active, Voluntary Petition
- Chapter: 11
- Case Number: 26-00188-lmj11
- Estimated Assets: $10,000,001-$50 million
- Estimated Liabilities: $1,000,001-$10 million
- Reason for Filing: Restructure business under court supervision
As of now, Wenthold Excavating, LLC owes between 50 and 99 creditors in total. Court filings indicate that funds will not be available for distribution to the unsecured creditors after administrative expenses are paid.
The documents submitted by attorney Robert Gainer, on behalf of Wenthold Excavating, LLC, include Schedules A/B, D, E/F, G, and H. A summary of assets and liabilities, a verification of the creditor matrix, and a statement of financial affairs were submitted by the attorney as well.
Court filings add that Wenthold Excavating, LLC further submitted a list of creditors who have the 20 largest unsecured claims and are not insiders.
Wenthold Excavating’s Chapter 11 filing reflects the company’s efforts to reorganize under court supervision. Future court decisions will shape how the Iowa contractor continues operations while addressing its obligations to creditors.
