First, I'd like to thank Uncle Perry for his great literary work "Remembering Ralph". The tribute was touching and for me, not being "home" a lot during Grandpa's last days, it brings a sense of peace being able to read how things were at the end. The recorded history will be passed on to future generatations as well. Again thank you for taking the time to record this for our family.
As for the reason for the post, I was suprised as I read "Remembering Ralph" of the different jobs that both Grandpa and Perry had held in their careers. The only job I remember Perry having was the office supply store in Pontiac. I guess I never thought about it, but other than the partnership in the home town elevator, I didn't realize his involvements with Continental Grain or others. So that got me thinking, what are some of the other jobs members of the Klopfenstein Family have done. I only remember Jerry as Superintendant, and then teacher in retirement, but I'm sure there were other jobs, I remember Cleve as a teacher, but I know there was a commodities history before that. For me, I have worked in the food industry making powdered sugar and cereal, bagged groceries at Food World, pumped gas at Amaco, built apartments in Athens, AL, laid sod, built seats and now explain (and try to prevent) why we produce and ship bad car parts.
So let's hear it, what are some of the "jobs" you have had in your life, either big or small. EDK
17 comments:
I walked beans, worked in the concession stand at the pool, served ice cream at DQ, washed dishes at NIU, was a secretary at Orkin, dispatched OTR trucks for Bressler's ice cream, babysat, and have done a multitude of things at State Farm. I currently am a Marketing Manager. My team helps agents implement ongoing advertising and marketing programs to grow and sustain their businesses.
My first paying job was typing for two ISNU geography professors - tests and research information they were gathering (this was on a manual typewriter complete with carbon copies and typewriter erasers. It was before computers were invented and even before white-out was invented!) Later, I worked for about 4 months at Country Companies as a file clerk, then taught business classes at Coal City High School for one year, and at Dwight Township High School for two years -where I was also the Jr. Class sponsor. Then I was a mom for ten years and worked part-time for about two years at the Minonk public library. Then taught at El Paso High School for 15 years. I also worked as a bank teller at the Gridley bank then for 8 years as activity director for Independent Living residents at Meadows. Now I'm doing whatever the spirit moves moment by moment - it's great.
Great idea for a post. I went door to door selling greeting cards (can you imagine doing that now!), was a pharmacy and IV technician at the hospital in Decatur, announced on two radio stations, one of which was at ISU, and also did registration work at ISU, did about six different jobs as a student worker in the Bob Jones offices, taught jr. high/ high school at two different schools for 29 years, did automated voice mail work for about half a dozen places, worked on teachers' manuals for BJU Press science curriculum, and reared two kids!
Oh, and I was a paper grader for an English teacher, and I was a camp counselor and then receptionist for three summers! This is kind of fun to think of all these old jobs.
During my college summers I worked as camp craft shop worker (2 summers), counselor (1 summer) and office worker (1 summer). At college I assisted a dean's secretary for 1 1/2 years and was a dorm hostess for 2 years. I've taught various social studies, English, and computer applications courses as well as been a guidance counselor and athletic director. I sold men's furnishings at Witzig's in Morton and clerked at Berean bookstore. Now I do support work in an accounting department at Herman Miller, teach adjunct at Cornerstone University, am a senior independent beauty consultant with Mary Kay and do a cleaning job.
I worked as a Summer janitor while in high-school, an engineering intern with the Woodford County Highway department (fancy title which included plenty of ditch mowing), interned with AT&T, worked in the Hardware / Lawn & Garden / Sporting Goods section at Sears while in college. Since college I've worked for Andersen Consulting, UNext, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and Slalom Consulting - almost all of this work has been Program / Project management of software development. I'm also now accepting commissions for wooden boats.
I was a clerk at Klopfenstein's (of course). I took notes for a couple disabled students during college. Also, sales associate at Bergners, Unit Secretary on the Medical/Oncology floor, EKG Tech, ER nurse intern, ER Unit Secretary all at St. Joe Med Center. Senior Nursing Assistant (same as CNA) on Cardiology floor at KU Med Center. After graduating, I worked for 10 mos as an RN at a family practice office before having children. Now I have the best job of all.....a stay at home mom! (and technically a co-owner of our business). This was a fun and interesting post...good job Eric!
Oh, how could I have forgotten babysitting for Heather and Kelsie for a summer!! :)
In the U. S. Army, I served at Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Sam Houston, Texas. Also at Camp Perry, Ohio. After my stint at Klopfenstein Grain Company, I joined Central Soya Company, working at Gibson City, Il, Marion, Ohio, Chattanooga, TN and Guntersville, Ala.
I took a job with Continental Grain Company at West Lafayette, In and was finally transferred to the Board of Trade in Chicago where I wrote the company's weekly commodity report sent out to 6,000 customers.
I then took a job at the Bunge Corp's new export elevator north of Pontiac, from which I was able to purchase Widmer Office Products in Pontiac. Eventually, we changed the name to P. A. Klopfenstein Co., Inc., and here I am 31 years later -- still working, on and on -- and eager to get to work each day, and on Monday mornings.
In my youth I detassled corn at Pfisters in El Paso, my first non-elevator job, for two summers. It was very hot, monotnous work. It wasn't a very high level crew, and one backward kid said, "Just keep pullin them detassles."
One summer I mowed the church yard down by Route 24.
But perhaps my very first job was running from the grain office over to Uncle Joe's hardware store at the end of each month to get his "books," so Dad could work on them and do all the month-end work. When they were done, I took them back, and Uncle Joe would give mea nickle to get a
n ice cream cone at Kaufman's Restaurant. (sometimes in the cone area, one would get a "free" cone, a wondrous delight)
Perry
I forgot to mention that while in the employ of Bunge Corporation, I worked for awhile at Clinton, Iowa. It was here I was called out of bed early one morning as Carol was about ready to deliver Charity -- and I drove to Mennonite Hospital. She hadn't arrived yet, so I went out for breakfast. When I arrived back, she had been born. No cell phones back then. Hadn't even thought of them.
Perry
I helped renovate a Venture store on the overnight shift. I have been an admin for a Glemby Hair Salons exec, the sales team at CBI NaCon (manufacturer of water towers) and Satellite Music Network (radio shows). I taught English in Spain, and Spanish here. This year, I'm on the list to be a liaison/tutor for homebound and hospitalized students.
I forgot my stint answering phones for 1-800-HOLIDAY. "Thanks for calling Holiday Inn, my name is Janice, may I help you with a reservation?" over and over for 8 hours at a time.
Jason's feeling left out. He did all the basic "country boy" jobs - walking beans, detassling, and baling hay. He was a lifeguard at the grand swimming mecca, the Minonk Pool. He joined the National Guard and so spent 2 summers in high school at Fort Benning, GA. In college, he painted houses, sold Electrolux vacuum cleaners, and worked Hardware / Lawn & Garden / Sporting Goods section at Sears (thanks to Drake). After college, he was a tech at Nuclear Data Systems, worked at Andersen Consulting, and has been with First Chicago / Bank One / JPMorgan Chase for the psat 9 years. He has worked on the technology side of different financial applications at the bank. Currently, he manages the online treasury application known as JPMorgan Access (that Rhoda happens to use at her job!)
Who doesn't want to get their moneysworth out of the BLOG?
Here are some reflections:
Early-on--cutting grass with a hand push mower. Grandma's yard--
3 hours--$.35 total!
Handling grain at the elevator--getting sick from the mold.
Detassled corn--got my SS #.
Teenage--cutting oats and milking cows at Alwin Funk farm.
During High School--worked Saturday's at Stahl's Food Center. Started at $1.25, finished at $2.50 DAILY!
'49-'49 assistant to bookkeeper at Taylor Motor Sales, Bloomington. $5 daily, six days a week.
'50-'53 Education at U.of I. Finished degree at Athens State University
'53-'60 Financial analyst for Dun & Bradstreet, Chicago.
'55 Met LadyK at Chicago church!!!
(I've not been the same since.)
'57--we married.
'60-'64 operated Klopfenstein Ford Sales, Chenoa.
'65-moved to Athens, AL to help in three AC churches. These were days when $100 weekly was a very good income. Mim started teaching at $4200 yearly.
'69--moved to Decatur. Mim started at Calhoun Comm. College at $7200. Her boss said that would be more than she had ever made before. House payment $163. mo.
Nov. '71 Disc Jockey at Christian radio station in Huntsville, AL
May '75 Formed, managed and programmed WBQM-fm in Decatur with local Grace church. Station ultimately sold to Bible Broadcasting Network. Our four children were active!
Sept. '77 Started Lawrence County Christian School, a ministry of our church.
Jan. '90 Worn out. Had to take a lower profile at our church.
Mid 80's--Savings interest rates skyrocketed so I started Savers Trust Fund.
'90 to date--In and out interim adm. of church Christian school.
THE LORD HAS BLESSED!!! MIM & I HAVE HAD A GOOD RUN!!!
Extremely interesting reading -- I'm going to try to print out this page to study even more later.
My 2 cents: walking beans, detasseling at Pfisters, mowing yards. One summer mowed 14 yards regularly including Uncle Joe's ($1), Aunt Mary's large yard & lot ($4), Aunt Minerva's ($1 + cookie),
both my grandma's, etc. I dumped trucks and boxed train cars at Klopfenstein Grain Co. I also built grain bins during college and made Karo Syrup in Argo, IL.
Was an automobile claims adjuster
for Country Companies for 6 months and then a teacher at Peoria Central High school and Peoria Alternative High School with a 10 year stint in between as a Heinold Commodity broker. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few others.
CLEVE
I also did the usual detassling (both walking & riding). In highschool worked at a nursing home as a CNA and at Fairbury's library as a librarian. After HS, I worked very briefly as at a Pet Supply store in B-ton and then as a Nanny for 2 years. When we moved to Athens I worked briefly at another Nursing home and then at the AC Preschool for a year and a half. Once back in IL., I worked for GMS Lab as the office manager for 7 years doing everything from accounts receivable & payable, month end, and payroll to ordering supplies. Since then, I have focused on being the best mom possible and home schooling our 3 beautiful children. RK
My first job, I think, was detasseling corn. Then a clerk at a real 5 and Dime, Burger King, waitress at Howard Johnson's, and worked in Dad's office at Heinold Commodities downtown Chicago. A fun job I had was running an old linotype machine for the little old Wyoming newspaper. I used to get in trouble for typing too fast, as the bucket of melted lead beside me would get too hot and "explode." The machine had a totally different keyboard and I loved learning to type it. After my kids got older I worked at Meadows nursing home as a CNA, then and still at Bromenn Hospital as a labor tech and childbirth educator.
Swiss recruitment process is one of the most crucial and sensitive aspects in finding or offering a job.
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