CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (KCRG) – 91-year-old Cedar Rapids mailman Ernest “Ernie” Topness is retiring this year after 65 years delivering the mail to his community.
A ceremony earlier this year recognized him as the second-longest tenured letter carrier in the country.
On Friday, a surprise was waiting on his final route- a thank you, from old friends like Craig Kroupa, who’s known Topness for decades. Kroupa says his father was a mail carrier too. “He’s very special. He’s a very special man,” says Kroupa. “When Ernie became my mailman, that was heaven sent because Ernie is about the closest thing to my dad.”
In 2020, Ernie reached 5,500 hours of sick leave. USPS calculates that’s around two and a half years of sick leave, which will be boosted onto his retirement.
All of those years, starting in the 1950′s, were spent in Cedar Rapids. He’s built incredible relationships across his community, which his daughter Pati Williams says is evident in everyday life. “We go out to lunch, and all this one guy bought us lunch one day. He’s like, ohh Ernie!” says Williams.
Williams says her dad set a strong example when she was growing up, at times working three different jobs. “He never missed a day. He hardly ever called in,” says Williams. “I mean, even in the snow, when the young people would call in, he would show up.”
Topness says he received many warm goodbyes while delivering mail for the last time.