“My very first job, at age 18, was at a bank,” Marge Welch says. “I was actually going to school to become a medical assistant. On Christmas break, I got my first bank job, and that was the end of my medical career.”

Pewaukee Personal Banker Marge Welch retires at the end of this month.

Next week, Marge will reach the end of her banking career, too, when she retires from her position as Personal Banker at our Pewaukee branch on April 30.

That first job — at National Savings & Loan, a family-run institution, where she worked with her best friend — was just supposed to be part time. “But then I really, really liked the people I worked with,” Marge says. The bank liked her too, and asked her to come on full time. “I just didn’t want to go into medicine anymore. I don’t know how to explain it any better than that!”

She’s had no cause to regret her decision, either. She worked at National S&L for about five years, before getting married and becoming a stay-at-home mom. She went back to work when her oldest child turned 12, taking a retail position and eventually ending up here in August 1998, when she came on board at Pewaukee as the Teller Supervisor.

People are the highlight
“The highlight of my employment at North Shore Bank has been all the wonderful people I’ve worked with at both the branch and Corporate, and of course the many customer relationships I have formed throughout the years,” Marge says. “My passion has always been to help people and make them feel comfortable with the banking decisions they’ve made. I’ll miss those interactions the most.”

Among the people she’s helped is her boss, Pewaukee Branch Manager Patty Muehl.

“Marge and I worked together at a different bank. When she came to North Shore Bank, she called me every other day to get me to apply,” Patty says. “I finally listened and started about three months after her. She has always been very persistent, and I’m glad I listened to her!”

Years of laughter
“Patty is not only a co-worker, but also a good friend,” Marge says. “She has been a terrific manager and mentor to me throughout my career, especially when I transitioned into a new position. We’ve shared many laughs together throughout the years, with all the crazy things I have done. Anyone who knows me well can attest to that!”

Brookfield Capitol Teller Supervisor Rosanne Pulvermacher, who worked with Marge for nine years, says, “She was involved in some of my fondest and funniest memories at the bank. I will miss talking to Marge because we always end up laughing about something we did.”

Customer Care Specialist Kathy Johnson agrees. “She is loved by customers and staff, always positive and fun. I will miss her great sense of humor and caring, kind spirit.”

Now, Marge plans to spend more time with her five kids and 10 grandchildren. “Three of my children live out of state, so I will obviously be traveling more,” she says. She’d also like to do some volunteering to stay connected to the Pewaukee community.

“I would just like to thank North Shore Bank for a wonderful career,” she says. “Banking was my passion, obviously — since it wasn’t just my first job, but also my last.”