It was a celebration recently at the Escalon Post Office as co-workers wished Joe Berchtold, back row second from left, well on his retirement after a lengthy career; first starting as a mail carrier and then moving in to the role of a postal clerk at the Escalon location. Photo Contributed
Except for a brief three-month stint in Manteca for some on the job training, Joe Berchtold spent his entire career with the U.S. Postal Service right where he wanted to: in Escalon.
The longtime employee was feted on his retirement recently, surrounded by co-workers as they wished him well while sharing refreshments and memories.
Berchtold started working at the Escalon Post Office in 1987 and, with three years’ credit for military service, he ended up with a 41-year career with the USPS.
“I was a city carrier for seven or eight years,” Berchtold said of his first position with Escalon. “There were four city routes and you had about 550 to 600 mailboxes on each.”
As a carrier, Berchtold said you did have to put up with the elements – from the chilly winters to the blistering summers – and it was a fast-paced job. That left little time to visit with patrons along the route.
