Honored for 50 years and upcoming retirement ...

Waukon Shopko employee Mary Monroe was honored Wednesday, October 10 for 50 years of employment at a celebration held at the Waukon Shopko location. She is pictured in the center of the above photo with Shopko Chief Executive Officer Russ Steinhorst (left) and Chief Operations Officer Jim DePaul (right), who both traveled from Shopko headquarters in Green Bay, WI to attend the event.

According to the Shopko Public Relations Department, Monroe started working as a cashier for Gibson’s Discount Center in Decorah in 1968, at the age of 18, until Pamida acquired the store in 1981. She worked in the Health and Beauty Department until a position opened in the back office. She transfered to the Waukon Pamida in 1994 to work in the office there. In 1998, Pamida opened a location in the newly created Waukon Business District in south Waukon, which is where the store remains today as Shopko after a merger with Pamida in 2012. At the time of the merger, Monroe became the Receiving Specialist and for the past six years she has excelled in that position, trained new key receivers as well as many future leaders of Shopko.

In addition to celebrating her 50 years of employment, Monroe will retire from Shopko October 18. According to a statement issued by the Shopko Public Relations Department, her talent, confidence, and overall attitude will be greatly missed. Photo and information submitted by Shopko Public Relations Department.