MONROE - For Bill Guinther, retiring as manager from Blain's Farm & Fleet in Monroe means spending more time with his children and grandchildren.
"It's time to give someone younger the opportunity to be the manager," he said.
Freeport native Guinther, now 68, began working at the store back in September 1971 in the toy and paint sections. He left his old job at a tire manufacturing company because he was unhappy working the night shift.
By 1978, Guinther was promoted to assistant manager and then became manager two years later.
During his career, that spans almost 44 years, he said he has seen numerous changes in the store, including technological upgrades and building and product expansion.
"The products have immensely changed over the past 40 years," Guinther said.
The store, he said, started out small when he was first hired, but as time went on the store grew and expanded to create space for new products.
In the early 1980s, he said the store was able to computerize its operations with better cash registers and easier ways to do inventory.
"That was a big advancement," he said.
Guinther said the advancement was especially helpful for inventory because before that employees had to do inventory by hand, which was slow.
While the store has undergone major changes, the customers have been the same.
"The customers have always been fantastic," he said.
Throughout his career he has met many customers, including new homeowners and families.
"This community is great," Guinther added.
His dedication to the customers and community was proven years ago when a man reached out to ask Guinther to check on the man's wife. The woman was in a car accident on 8th Street in front of Farm & Fleet, and her husband was not able to get to the scene.
With no hesitation, Guinther went out to the accident to make sure the woman was not seriously injured.
"I felt it was the right thing to do," he said.
Farm & Fleet regional manager Roudell Weber, Guinther's boss, said he is one of those "go-to" managers who knew his job.
"He would go out of his way to help people out," he said. "Not just customers, but anyone."
Weber first met Guinther in 1989 when he worked along side him at the Monroe store as assistant manager. Weber added that Guinther impacted his career by showing him how to work with his associates and how to be fair to them.
Because of how he treated his associates, Weber said the Monroe Farm & Fleet has one of the lowest turnover rates and one of the highest average number of years associates worked for the company.
"He's the guy that even when you're having a bad day," Weber said, "he'll find something good and make you smile."
Weber said he believes Guinther was one of the most dedicated and most humble people who have worked for him.
But while Guinther said his job is rewarding, it was his want to spend more time with his wife, Debbie, his two kids and four grandchildren that ultimately drove him to retire.
"I don't want to miss any more family events," Guinther said.
His last day at Farm & Fleet will be Wednesday. He currently lives in Orangeville with his wife.
"It's time to give someone younger the opportunity to be the manager," he said.
Freeport native Guinther, now 68, began working at the store back in September 1971 in the toy and paint sections. He left his old job at a tire manufacturing company because he was unhappy working the night shift.
By 1978, Guinther was promoted to assistant manager and then became manager two years later.
During his career, that spans almost 44 years, he said he has seen numerous changes in the store, including technological upgrades and building and product expansion.
"The products have immensely changed over the past 40 years," Guinther said.
The store, he said, started out small when he was first hired, but as time went on the store grew and expanded to create space for new products.
In the early 1980s, he said the store was able to computerize its operations with better cash registers and easier ways to do inventory.
"That was a big advancement," he said.
Guinther said the advancement was especially helpful for inventory because before that employees had to do inventory by hand, which was slow.
While the store has undergone major changes, the customers have been the same.
"The customers have always been fantastic," he said.
Throughout his career he has met many customers, including new homeowners and families.
"This community is great," Guinther added.
His dedication to the customers and community was proven years ago when a man reached out to ask Guinther to check on the man's wife. The woman was in a car accident on 8th Street in front of Farm & Fleet, and her husband was not able to get to the scene.
With no hesitation, Guinther went out to the accident to make sure the woman was not seriously injured.
"I felt it was the right thing to do," he said.
Farm & Fleet regional manager Roudell Weber, Guinther's boss, said he is one of those "go-to" managers who knew his job.
"He would go out of his way to help people out," he said. "Not just customers, but anyone."
Weber first met Guinther in 1989 when he worked along side him at the Monroe store as assistant manager. Weber added that Guinther impacted his career by showing him how to work with his associates and how to be fair to them.
Because of how he treated his associates, Weber said the Monroe Farm & Fleet has one of the lowest turnover rates and one of the highest average number of years associates worked for the company.
"He's the guy that even when you're having a bad day," Weber said, "he'll find something good and make you smile."
Weber said he believes Guinther was one of the most dedicated and most humble people who have worked for him.
But while Guinther said his job is rewarding, it was his want to spend more time with his wife, Debbie, his two kids and four grandchildren that ultimately drove him to retire.
"I don't want to miss any more family events," Guinther said.
His last day at Farm & Fleet will be Wednesday. He currently lives in Orangeville with his wife.