Forest Home Teller Karen Tomaszewski retires next week.

Karen Tomaszewski, who retires Nov 6 after 28 part-time years at North Shore Bank, can’t wait to have more time to spend with her grandkids and extended family. She remarried six years ago, and she and husband John, a supervisor at Waukesha Roofing, have a blended family of four adult offspring and five grandkids ranging in age from 10 months to 18 years.

A confessed cleanaholic, Karen also looks forward to catching up on house projects, catching up with her many retired girlfriends, and catching up with John in the kitchen. “He has been doing most of the cooking. I’ve been making probably one meal a week, so now it’s my turn to have a hot meal on the table when he gets home from work.”

Banking: Everything has changed but the relationships
Karen’s financial career began at Badger Bank in 1986, where she started and has continued as a teller at Jackson Park and now Forest Home. She remembers how Ruth Hanson, who retired roughly seven years ago, would patiently work with her when she had trouble balancing numbers. “I was new to computers when I started, and Ruth would stay for an hour or more to help me. She never showed impatience or got hyper.”

Those were the days when customers could pay their utility bills at the branch. Interest rates were much higher than today, and there has been an enormous expansion in financial product offerings. Despite many changes, Karen says building rewarding, satisfying relationships with coworkers and customers has stayed the same. “Some customers followed me here. Kids I used to give suckers to are bringing in kids of their own.”

That’s what she will miss most: the friendships. When she and John head for “God’s country” — Eagle River and Three Lakes in northern Wisconsin — to visit relatives (John’s mom was from a family of 11), they often stop to see former Badger staffer Marlene Prahl. “We’ve been visiting Marlene for 30 years,” Karen says, testimony to the lasting friendships that banking connections produce.

One of John’s sons lives in Hood River, Oregon, making that another attractive vacation destination.

Humor, hugs part of her legacy
As Karen bids farewell, she looks forward to a full and busy retirement. Yet she takes a moment to pause for a look back. “Thanks for all the good times,” she says

Karen’s Forest Home coworkers are going to miss those good times. “Karen is not only a coworker, but a friend as well,” says ABMS Marge Stai. “She is our social butterfly. She knows all the customers and their families. She makes us — and them — laugh with silly things she says or does.”

Marge reflects, “I remember a customer who came in and said he didn’t know his account number. Karen teasingly asked, ‘Do you know your name?’ His expression was priceless. Her smile and humor will be missed by many.”

UB Kim Dane adds: “With our staff of four, we have come to think of each other as family. Karen has always made everyone her friend, and that’s why she will be missed so much by staff and customers. She was always there with a hug, whether for hello or good-bye or just for support.”

“Karen is the type of employee who makes you smile before, during, and after every interaction,” says DM Janet Dexter. “She has such an uplifting personality that truly brightens your day. She has a tremendous strength about her and can smile through adversity. I’ll miss my monthly hug.”