Sullivan to retire from postal career after 26 years
OSMOND — Joanne “Jo” Sullivan, postmaster at the Osmond Post Office, will retire on April 30 after more than 25 years with the postal service.
Jo, whose husband, Gene, farms near Randolph, began her lengthy career working in Norfolk as a Rural Carrier Associate, or RCA, in December of 1993. She also worked nights at the plant as a substitute.
In October of 1994, she transferred to Laurel as an RCA, then in 1995 to the mail processing plant in Sioux City, IA, working nights and weekends. That was considered a “career” position with benefits such as insurance, and Jo said she “loved it — until I figured out how many miles and hours I was spending on the road.”
She then transferred in 1998 to working at the Norfolk mail processing and delivery facility as a clerk, nights and weekends until May 2005, when she received her first postmaster appointment in Jackson. In 2007, she became officer in charge at Ponca and, later that year, was appointed postmaster in Newcastle.
About that time, she heard that Bill Lorenz was going to retire as postmaster in Osmond, so she put in her paperwork to apply for the position, and on Valentine’s Day 2008, she became the new postmaster here.
“It’s been great. Good people, good crew. I told them if they’d be a bunch of jerks, it would have been easier to retire!” she laughed. “So it’s been just the best.” Jo’s crew members in Osmond include Amy Bolz, Neil Wattier, Van Hoffman, Tom Masat, Craig and Trudy Mosel and Tricia Scott.
When she began her career in the postal service, Jo explained that she wanted a job, and she and her husband, Gene, as farmers, needed the insurance.
She saw the tests being given, and in those days when they gave tests (for postal positions), they had them at the auditorium and 200 people showed up to take the test.
A neighbor started working in Norfolk, and he filled her in on a few things, and she remembers him saying how they couldn’t get people to work and how it was hard work.
“I remember saying, ‘What’s so hard about it?,’” she laughed. She found out: “You’re throwing mail, and you’ve got thick bundles of magazines. . . and you’re doing that for eight hours — you’re hurting! It’s a tough job.”
That was at the plant in Norfolk. She said she probably wouldn’t have lasted this long working at the plant. But she said she loved the people and the fast pace.
The biggest change Jo said she has seen in her years with the postal service is the changeover to automation, which saves the customer a ton of money, she said.
As far as the biggest challenges she’s seen, Jo said “Nothing a person can’t handle. The people here — if something comes up, they handle it.” The flood was a challenge — a learning experience, she said, and with COVID-19, “People have been really good about it,” she added. “If someone is in here, they’ll wait.”
An Osmond native, Jo is the daughter of Ray and Dorothy Krohn and a 1968 graduate of Osmond High School. In addition to her husband Gene, Jo’s family includes her children and spouses, Mark and Robin Sullivan of Brainard, Stacy Sullivan of Norfolk, Nick Sullivan of Belden, Shawn and Kate Sullivan of Omaha, Casey and Kristy Sullivan of Salt Lake City, Britni of Lincoln and Brandi of Omaha; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Asked why she decided to retire at this time, Jo explained that she has planned to retire several times, but had always changed her mind.
“But I’m just looking forward to a really good summer at home,” Jo explained. “And I want to help my daughter move to Salt Lake City. And that way I can see my grandchildren and the great-grandbaby.”
She also wants to visit other family members. “And wherever Gene wants to go, too!’ she laughed. “So yeah, I want to do things, and play in the garden with the flowers, plant more trees, and just be outside every minute of the day! And I’ve got some building projects I want to do.”
Jo admitted she will be emotional on her last day, especially because, with the ongoing pandemic, a traditional open house and going-away party is not possible.
“Maybe I can put a tray of cookies out there and people can just say ‘goodbye’ on their way out,” she said.
