The interesting thing about Lommel, who works three days a week at Cash Wise Liquor in Baxter during the summer, is that he is 90 years old. Its story is very special as the country celebrates Labor Day Weekend.
“I’ve been working for 80 years,” he said recently, smiling. “I still enjoy it. I can’t just sit. My doctor told me that most people exercise and keep their bodies in shape when they retire, but you also have to keep your mind occupied. “
Lommel is engaged in learning all of the store’s products and also building first name relationships with the customers and the salespeople who deliver drinks to the store.
“Jimmy is not only one of my favorite employees of all time, but also one of the best people I have ever met,” said Cash Wise manager Mark Dockendorf. “His attitude towards his work and his life is always positive. He never lingers on his ailments. “
Lommel, who has been struggling with bleeding ulcers since he was 16, is now back at work after recovering from a back operation on July 26th.
“I used to fill shelves and help pick them up,” he says, “but now I mainly stay behind the counter and work at the cash register. I don’t know how much longer I’ll be working. I feel good and the work keeps me young. “
Lommel started delivering papers to Volkmuth Printing at the age of 10 while growing up in St. Cloud. He later worked at JC Penney’s in St. Cloud while in high school. His full time career while in St. Cloud included selling routes for Purity Milk, running a bowling alley in Sauk Rapids, and working for Holsum Bakery.
“I worked for Holsum, but then I was transferred to Duluth,” said Lommel. “Then I worked for Dalbo Cheese (while living in Princeton) but I left after it was sold to Land ‘O Lakes.”
Lommel then took a job at Deli Express Sandwiches, where he retired after 16 years. Today he works for Cash Wise Liquor for the 22nd summer.
“I’m here about my managers,” he said. “You are treating me great. I still wake up in the morning and feel like going to work. “
Lommel said he developed his work ethic from his family.
“My father (Leo) had a great work ethic,” he said. “He was a bricklayer all his life. My three brothers were also bricklayers. But I like selling. I’ve been in sales all my life because I enjoy people. “
In addition to hard work, Lommel also believes that employees have to be honest.
“I learned a long time ago that honest, hard work pays off for you and your company,” he says. “I firmly believe in working on time and being honest with customers and your boss. A customer recently paid with two $ 100 bills with two more $ 100 bills attached. I joked with the customer that you can’t tip that much on Tuesdays. She appreciated my honesty and said that our business now has a customer for life. “
Lommel has been coming to the Brainerd area as a seasonal guest at Fritz’s Resort north of Nisswa for 34 years.
“We started camping with Fritz when I was living in Princeton,” he said. “I love it here. I also like to go fishing when I’m not working.”
During the winter months, Lommel and his 51-year-old wife, Shirley, live in Mesa, Arizona.
“I work on a driving range on a golf course in Mesa,” he said. “It’s paying off for my golf. Shirley is retired. But she has a big job to take care of me. “