Jackie Badalik has retired as postmaster of the Manawa Post Office.
Her last day at work was Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Badalik has been employed by the U.S. Postal Service for the past 35 years.
“I feel very lucky to have had such a good career,” she said. “I have met so many wonderful people, both customers and employees – that is indeed the part that I will miss the most.”
After serving two years in the U.S. Air Force, Badalik was hired as a postal clerk at the Tigerton Post Office in 1979. In 1980, she transferred to Butler.
In 1991, she was appointed postmaster of the Merton office. After two years, she transferred to King for five years, followed by 14 years in Marion.
Badalik was named postmaster in Manawa in October 2012.
She supervises three mail routes and seven employees – three full time and four part time. The local post office handles a daily average of 4,000 letters and 150 parcels, plus stacks of newsprint deliveries.
“I have seen so many changes to the post office in the last 35 years,” Badalik said. “The most obvious one is the increased use of automation as far as sorting mail.”
“Also, people don’t use the mail as much; they use more email,” she added. “But we are seeing an increase in package delivery because people order more online.”
Badalik is excited to be starting a new chapter in her life. She plans to spend time with her two grandchildren.
In addition to babysitting, she will care for alpacas and, “take care of all the undone projects that are sitting at home waiting for me.”
She resides in Tigerton with her husband Jim. The couple has two grown sons – Justin and Josh.