Shirley She Jests

After 42 years, Shirley Noltemeyer still can't truly retire.

Governor Jim Doyle congratulates Shirley on her retirement after 42 years of state service at the "Party of the Stars" reception at the Executive Residence on May 30.

Shirley Noltemeyer would be the first to tell you – with a laugh - that she's "Not normal!" Unlike others her age, who count the days until they can chill on the front porch in a rocking chair, Shirley would "much rather work," she explains. "I'm someone who needs a schedule – a busy one!"

Indeed, who in their right mind spends 42 years in the same division in state government, retires, and returns to help out as a full-time Limited Term Employee (LTE) after just shy of two months because:

1. she's cleaned every closet in her house, as well as wallpapering her kitchen – what else was there to do? and
2. she knows this is the busiest time of the year for her amusement ride-inspecting co-workers, and just didn't feel right not pitching in to get the job done.

Well, her own mind firmly intact, the answer is Commerce employee and safety inspector extraordinaire Shirley Noltemeyer.

Born in Madison and raised in Waunakee, where she was a 1964 graduate of Waunakee High School, Shirley took a job at American Family Insurance straight out of high school. She liked it all right – but when the opportunity arose in August of 1965 to join the state's Safety & Buildings Division as a mail room worker, she jumped at the chance.

Climbing through the ranks over the years from receptionist to administrative assistant, fire prevention coordinator to occupational safety inspector, as Shirley tells it, while every job has its ups and downs, she's pretty much loved every minute of it.

"It never occurred to me that I would stay for over 40 years," muses Shirley, "but I've always liked the people (she worked with) – it felt like family."

Over the past five decades, Shirley has a number of "firsts" in state service. She was the first woman to become a fire prevention safety inspector, and then the first as the head of the Safety Section.

"The guys accepted me so well," she says of the days before even Mary Richards broke the men-only barrier on ‘The Mary Tyler Moore Show.' "They played practical jokes on me, all in good fun."

Shirley was the first woman in state government to take maternity leave, in 1971, and she currently is the woman in the state civil service system with the most years of seniority. Something her husband Dennis thinks is a long enough record.

"He tells me that I don't understand the concept (of retirement)" laughs Shirley. While he's eased into it happily, he fears that his wife has inherited her mother's work-ethic gene.

"My mom still works part-time," she explains, "at 83!"

Indeed, even Shirley's part-time job at Lands' End (for the past 17 years) and her newfound hobby of walking "Ten thousand steps – about 4 ¾ to 5 miles a day" was not enough to keep her busy. Nor were her two grandsons, Lance, 9 and Bryce, 5 - sons of her son Scott and his wife Wendy – they're in school all day anyway! (Shirley's other son Brad is still single.) And while she's an avid recipe clipper and cook, and likes to do flower arranging and basket weaving, those things too, she reckons, can wait a bit longer.

So, bags packed – this time of year inspectors are on the road - back to Commerce she came.

Hitting the road in Wisconsin has always been one of the highlights of Shirley's job. While the nearly non-stop traveling required in a safety inspector's life can get old, she has never lost her zest for seeing the sites in Wisconsin.

"The thing that always strikes me the most as I travel around the state," said Shirley, "is that I think people have no idea how truly beautiful it is." Fountain City, in Trempealeau County, she notes is amazing – it's built into the side of a hill."

Fountain City's citizens are amazing as well. Shirley notes that when she leaves the hotel the morning after a snowfall, "there's a path shoveled to my car." (No service like that in the big city!)

It appears that Inspector Shirley is a hit at other hotels as well. After years (and years) as a guest at one in Eau Claire, she laughs that, ‘They were going to redecorate and asked my opinion about some things – I always stayed in the same room."

Well, not only did they take her suggestions, they also named it the "Shirley Noltemeyer Room" in honor of their long-time frequent guest.

Shirley was quite touched, and notes that that is one of the reasons she returned to Commerce.

"Over the years," she explains, "those people – particularly in places like the Dells (where there are many family-owned, permanent rides in the myriad of amusement ride parks there) – are really special. I get to know them – their families - it's fun getting caught up."

One can't help but wonder – will Shirley Noltemeyer ever REALLY retire? She shakes her head and says that is highly doubtful – although at some point she realizes she will have to call it quits as an inspector.

"At least," she says with a twinkle in her eye, "I can say it's had its ups and downs – but it's been a heck of a ride!"

-- Barbro McGinn