After 30 years and 17 days on the job, Patsy Jessen retired April 30. A small banner from her fellow workers wishing her a happy retirement and a personal note from Jessen greeted the customers she’s served as a window clerk in both LaPorte and Bellvue.
Her note said simply: “Thanks Everybody. This has been a great job and you have been the nicest people to know for the thirty years. Say ‘hi’ whenever you see me. Patsy”
“I like working in small post offices,” Jessen said. “We all do lots of jobs from unloading and sorting mail, to placing it in boxes and taking care of the finances.”
Jessen’s husband, Greg recently retired as caretaker for the Larimer and Weld Reservoir. The couple lived on the west side of Terry Lake and enjoyed a big koi pond on the property. They have moved to Fort Collins and are discovering that it’s fun to have neighbors after living in an isolated area for so long.
After a childhood in Rock Springs, Wyo., where her father worked in a coal mine, the family moved to Colorado because of Jessen’s asthma. “I’ve told my sisters they can thank me for that,” she said.
Her 97-year-old mother lives in Fort Collins and Jessen looks forward to spending more time with her after retiring. Son Thadeus has three sons and Daniel has two daughters who will be seeing more of their grandmother in the days to come.
Jessen may have time to take up reading and sewing, activities she enjoyed in the past but has had little time for recently. And she looks forward to meeting up with the local people she has come to know across the post office window.
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