Bio: Kaiser, Marty (Retirement - 2014)

Contact: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Boeck, Kaiser, Petrusczak, Rogney, Schultz, Seefeldt

----Source: The Tribune - Phonograph (Abbotsford, WI) 1/22/2014

Colby postmaster hangs up his mail bag after 30 years

By Ben Schultz

Marty Kaiser’s career with the United States Postal Service started n the south side of Spence Street in Colby and ended across the road. In between, it took him all around Central Wisconsin in a job that spanned 30 years.

On Friday the long-time civil servant hung up his mail bag, punched the clock for the last time and began his retirement.

Around 9 a.m., members of the community, fellow postmaster and other customers started stream through the doors to drop off gifts, joke around about getting bored with so much time to himself and wish Kaiser well.

Marty knew everybody by their first name, having spent a decade at the Colby office and being native of the city. With a spread of crackers, sausage and cheese, along with some punch and cake to feed the well-wishers, Kaiser said he’ll have to hard time saying good-bye to his colleagues.

“I’ll miss the workers and the camaraderie with the staff the most,” he said.

On January 1984, Kaiser started his career as a clerk in the Colby Post Office, which used to be in the bank building south of its current location. From there, he crisscrossed Clark, Marathon, Lincoln, Wood and Portage counties in his involvement with the Postal Service.

Kaiser headed to the Wausau plant shortly after starting in Colby before being named the officer in charge at Irma (north of Merrill) in 1986. A year later, he was shuffled back to Wausau.

He came back to the area in 1993 with a transfer to Abbotsford as a clerk. Five years later he headed down STH 10 to become the postmaster at Blenker. In 1999 he wound up as the officer in charge at Junction City.

A short stint as the officer in charge in Rothschild was followed by his appointment as postmaster at Dorchester in 2000. Kaiser finally landed back at Colby as it postmaster in 2003.

Succeeding Kaiser at the Colby office will be Melanie Boeck, the postmaster at Granton.

Kaiser said he’s seen a lot of changes over the years as the venerable institution has weathered the age of email and paperless work. He noted the stacks of letters have diminished, but there still plenty of boxes to sort. “It’s evolved to more packaging,” he said.

The man who seems to have worked in a dozen zip codes was highly praised by his fellow postmasters who came in from nearby municipalities.

Bill Petrusczak, the previous postmaster in Colby and long-time friend of Kaiser’s said the departure will reverberate. “There’s going to be a void,” he said. “You’ll be missed.”

Reudean Seefeldt, a clerk at the Colby office for 17 years, said though Kaiser is a boss, he’s always down to earth and ready to shoulder the work. “He’s really a nice guy to work for. It’s a shame to lose him,” she said.

Kaiser received a plaque from his supervisor, Lori Rogney, manager of post office operations for central and northeastern Wisconsin. I just want to wish him the best in his retirement years,” she said.

Though he’s supposed to put his feet up in coming months, it looks like Kaiser will be bustling as ever. Marty’s wife Gwenn, owner of Designer Advertising in Colby, said she expect him to pitch in a bit more with the business, though he’s already being bothered to help out elsewhere.

“The Phone’s been ringing, asking if he’ll be available,” she said. “He’ll be plenty busy.” “We’ll miss him, but the community will get to see more of him,” she said. “He’s usually one of those people who’ll go out and help anybody.”

Kaiser already volunteers as an EMT and with the literacy group Page Forward.

He said retirement will allow him to see his three children more often His oldest daughter, Rachel, is in Chicago and his son, Quinn, is attending college in Madison. The middle child, Bailey is a Spanish major who is currently in Uruguay, a South American nation. Marty and Gwenn are planning a trip in April to see her.

Beyond that, Kaiser figures he’ll pick up odd jobs here and there when he’s not at Designer Advertising. “I’ll help out where ever I can.” He said.

Kaiser said the post office has provided steady, rewarding employment for the 30 years of his service. “It’s made a good life for me, my wife and my kids.” He said.