Moments in Time
Moments in Time is a weekly series featuring recollections of area residents. To suggest someone to feature in Moments in Time, please contact Mary Jane Grenzow, editor, at editor@themonroetimes.com.
MONROE - Mike Einbeck was born and raised in Monroe - and although he's traveled extensively, he loves to come back to the community where he's spent his life. The most important things to him are apparent - family, friends and the simple things, like grilling in the summer and letting the grandchildren enjoy the backyard pool.
Einbeck has fond memories of living around town in Monroe. His father owned a grocery store, Einbeck's Clover Farm Store, and the family lived there on 6th Street and 20th Avenue until he was 14.
Then, the family moved just off of the Square and eventually lived near Recreation Park, where he remembers having lots of fun at the pool and enjoying the amenities the park offered. Cheese Days was the anticipated community event, and Einbeck looked forward to it every time it came around.
The 1962 Monroe High School graduate admits he wasn't a great student, but he enjoyed playing football and was very involved. After graduation, he worked for a year as a mechanic before Walt Regez approached him, looking for help at Regez Supply.
It was July 1963. The business was much smaller and slower then, but Einbeck enjoyed it from the start, doing all of the deliveries. For a while, he even kept his night job. He met his wife, Audry, a Fennimore native who was working at the Monroe Clinic at the time, and the couple married in August of 1964.
The outdoorsman kept busy with hunting, golfing and fishing as they started their family. He also dabbled in woodworking and loved making things for family members.
It wasn't long after he was married that a friend in Monroe asked Einbeck if he would be interested in joining the fire department. Einbeck decided to join and served the Monroe Fire Department for 15 years, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant. Einbeck was on the department when the middle school burned, the event he remembers most vividly from his time with the department. Although there were scary moments, serving the city of Monroe was something he could be proud of.
He always liked what he did, and said that being a part of the organization was like being with family. He remembers traveling with fellow firefighters, having summer gatherings and memorable Christmas parties together. He still gets together with retired fire department members regularly.
As the Regez business grew, the facility moved out to Coplien Road. In 1985, Einbeck bought the business.
"All of the cheesemakers were such loyal customers," he said.
It was a busy time in life - owning his own business and taking his sons to their many sporting events including hockey, football and baseball. Einbeck has fond memories of his oldest sons being a part of the start of the Monroe hockey program. The ice rink was where Abe Lincoln school is today, and he remembers using the fire truck to fill the rink in the evenings. Einbeck and his wife also recall bundling up under blankets and snowsuits just to get through the outdoor games.
Einbeck has had health issues over the years and has slowed down some, but he kept his business strong and his family and community were always at the helm.
Regez, now a cheese and paper products company, expanded to paper as cheesemakers had more requests. As the business grew, the company started serving more and more businesses in the Monroe community and expanded into northern Wisconsin and Illinois. Einbeck said it was the loyalty of the cheesemakers that helped the business grow, saying that they would always see if the Monroe-based business could get an item for them before shopping elsewhere.
Einbeck's son Brian was working at a cheese factory that closed, so he came to help at the family business in the interim. The senior Einbeck couldn't be happier his son made that choice, and in 2010 Brian purchased the business - Einbeck is very proud to have the company stay in the family.
Up until about two years ago, Einbeck was still working there, helping with paperwork and billing, making his career span 50 years.
"The people were great to us," he said, noting that the wonderful customers made the job exceptional.
Four years ago, Einbeck was named "The Big Cheese" and served in the Cheese Days parade.
For his and Audry's 50th wedding anniversary, in lieu of gifts, the couple asked that guests bring food for the Green County Food Pantry and gave more than 750 pounds of food.
Einbeck is also a longtime member of St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe.
Einbeck had a stroke 17 years ago that paralyzed him for a while, but he worked through therapy and is now able to still fully savor life. The couple didn't have a lot of time to travel while they were busy with sporting events and owning their own business, but after retirement, Einbeck spent much time traveling with his wife. They have taken trips to Switzerland, Ireland and Alaska, to name a few. Switzerland was a favorite, of course. The couple has also taken many cruises, including a long one through the Panama Canal, and took a trip to Hawaii for their 25th wedding anniversary. The couple still travels as much as they can.
Although they love to go, they also love to be home.
He is most proud of his four sons: Brian, Brad, Barry and Blane. He enjoys spending time with family, including his nine grandchildren, and the family loves big celebrations and grilling out in the summertime.
"Family is everything," Einbeck said.
Einbeck has fond memories of living around town in Monroe. His father owned a grocery store, Einbeck's Clover Farm Store, and the family lived there on 6th Street and 20th Avenue until he was 14.
Then, the family moved just off of the Square and eventually lived near Recreation Park, where he remembers having lots of fun at the pool and enjoying the amenities the park offered. Cheese Days was the anticipated community event, and Einbeck looked forward to it every time it came around.
The 1962 Monroe High School graduate admits he wasn't a great student, but he enjoyed playing football and was very involved. After graduation, he worked for a year as a mechanic before Walt Regez approached him, looking for help at Regez Supply.
It was July 1963. The business was much smaller and slower then, but Einbeck enjoyed it from the start, doing all of the deliveries. For a while, he even kept his night job. He met his wife, Audry, a Fennimore native who was working at the Monroe Clinic at the time, and the couple married in August of 1964.
The outdoorsman kept busy with hunting, golfing and fishing as they started their family. He also dabbled in woodworking and loved making things for family members.
It wasn't long after he was married that a friend in Monroe asked Einbeck if he would be interested in joining the fire department. Einbeck decided to join and served the Monroe Fire Department for 15 years, eventually attaining the rank of lieutenant. Einbeck was on the department when the middle school burned, the event he remembers most vividly from his time with the department. Although there were scary moments, serving the city of Monroe was something he could be proud of.
He always liked what he did, and said that being a part of the organization was like being with family. He remembers traveling with fellow firefighters, having summer gatherings and memorable Christmas parties together. He still gets together with retired fire department members regularly.
As the Regez business grew, the facility moved out to Coplien Road. In 1985, Einbeck bought the business.
"All of the cheesemakers were such loyal customers," he said.
It was a busy time in life - owning his own business and taking his sons to their many sporting events including hockey, football and baseball. Einbeck has fond memories of his oldest sons being a part of the start of the Monroe hockey program. The ice rink was where Abe Lincoln school is today, and he remembers using the fire truck to fill the rink in the evenings. Einbeck and his wife also recall bundling up under blankets and snowsuits just to get through the outdoor games.
Einbeck has had health issues over the years and has slowed down some, but he kept his business strong and his family and community were always at the helm.
Regez, now a cheese and paper products company, expanded to paper as cheesemakers had more requests. As the business grew, the company started serving more and more businesses in the Monroe community and expanded into northern Wisconsin and Illinois. Einbeck said it was the loyalty of the cheesemakers that helped the business grow, saying that they would always see if the Monroe-based business could get an item for them before shopping elsewhere.
Einbeck's son Brian was working at a cheese factory that closed, so he came to help at the family business in the interim. The senior Einbeck couldn't be happier his son made that choice, and in 2010 Brian purchased the business - Einbeck is very proud to have the company stay in the family.
Up until about two years ago, Einbeck was still working there, helping with paperwork and billing, making his career span 50 years.
"The people were great to us," he said, noting that the wonderful customers made the job exceptional.
Four years ago, Einbeck was named "The Big Cheese" and served in the Cheese Days parade.
For his and Audry's 50th wedding anniversary, in lieu of gifts, the couple asked that guests bring food for the Green County Food Pantry and gave more than 750 pounds of food.
Einbeck is also a longtime member of St. Victor Catholic Church in Monroe.
Einbeck had a stroke 17 years ago that paralyzed him for a while, but he worked through therapy and is now able to still fully savor life. The couple didn't have a lot of time to travel while they were busy with sporting events and owning their own business, but after retirement, Einbeck spent much time traveling with his wife. They have taken trips to Switzerland, Ireland and Alaska, to name a few. Switzerland was a favorite, of course. The couple has also taken many cruises, including a long one through the Panama Canal, and took a trip to Hawaii for their 25th wedding anniversary. The couple still travels as much as they can.
Although they love to go, they also love to be home.
He is most proud of his four sons: Brian, Brad, Barry and Blane. He enjoys spending time with family, including his nine grandchildren, and the family loves big celebrations and grilling out in the summertime.
"Family is everything," Einbeck said.