Charley Luthe’s last day at work was a party.

His wife, Barb, was there and so were daughter Sherry, her husband, Ryan, and their sons, R.J. and Chase.

His brother, Fred, and his wife drove into Austin to attend.

Other relatives and friends, including Daryl W. Franklin, another retired Mower County worker, came to wish Luthe ‘bob voyage” into retirement.

Most importantly, every employee of the Mower County Highway Department no on vacation or otherwise indisposed stopped by to greet their co-worker and friend.

“He’s been saying he has all these things to do when he retires,” said wife Barb. “Well, I’ve got a list of things for him to do, too, and it’s quite a long “Honey do” list if I say so myself.”

Luthe was a mechanic in the highway department for 40 years.

As he reached and then surpassed the typical retirement age of 65 six years ago, he talked of retiring, but never did.

Last Thursday, exactly 40 years, one month and 28 days after the started work for Mower County, Luthe punched the time clock for the last time.

“I’m going to miss it, but it’s time,” Luthe said.

As for his wife’s “Honey do” list, Luthe said, “I have a big list, too.”

“I think a lot of people in county government work for their employer for a long time,” said Al Cordes, Mower County’s human resource director. “It’s probably more commonplace in local government work than any other place.”

“I don’t know where Charley ranks with other county workers in other places, but here 40 years is a long time. A very long time,” Cordes said.

Susan Davis, Mower County Recorder, is now the “dean” of county employees. She started work for Mower County July 28, 1969.

When Cordes was conducting his exit interview with Luthe, Davis was observing her 39th employment anniversary with Mower County.

One of the guests at last Friday’s retirement party was Franklin, the amiable former county environmental services director, who retired earlier this year.

When Franklin retired April 11, he had recorded 36 years, 9 months and 5 days with Mower County. He has the exact number memorized and shares it with any listener.

Like Luthe, Franklin was given a big send-off by county work place and other friends last spring.

According to Cordes, Luthe’s exist interview last week was unremarkable. “We went over his retirement benefits, his health and life insurance benefits and other things like we do with all employees who retire,” Cordes said.

Luthe and Judy Nelson, who retired from the Mower County Department of Human Services, also this summer were honored at a recent Mower County Board of Commissioners’ meeting.

According to Cordes, employees who reach certain milestones in increments of five years are also feted at an employee recognition breakfast in the fall.