Glenn Guengerich Iowa Outstanding Older Worker

also honored nationally with Prime Time Award
By Mary Zielinski
Told he would receive an all expense paid trip to Washington, D.C, Glenn Guengerich of Wellman nearly hung up on “just another telemarketer.”
Last month, he returned from that trip which saw him and 62 others honored with National Prime Time Awards. The awards honor outstanding older workers, one from each state as well as Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
Guengerich, at 92, was not the eldest there: there were five others including the oldest, 100-year-old Mildred Heath of Overton, Nebraska. Heath, was named America’s Outstanding Oldest Worker. The youngest at the awards was 67.
What all of them have in common, other than being older, is that they still work at real jobs. Heath, a journalist since 1923, owns and works daily at the Overton Beacon. Guengerich, an electrician since 1940, continues to operate the shop he opened in Wellman in 1952.
Once Alice Iverson of Experience Works was able to convince Guengerich she was the real thing, he learned he not only was nominated as one of Iowa’s Outstanding Older Workers, but also was named Iowa’s Outstanding Older Worker. As such he would represent the state at the Experience Works national award ceremony.
“At first I really didn’t believe her,” he said, and when the trip was mentioned, “I asked ‘What’s the gimmick?’”
The Washington Trip, from September 22-25, was the second time he was in the nation’s capital, “but this was very different.”
Guengerich and others met with senators, representatives and other Washington officials, finding “They listened. They were interested in us.”
Among those he met was Senator Tom Harkin, “who actually took us on a tour,” and then just happened to meet “Kerry Kennedy, one of Robert Kennedy’s daughters.”
They visited with her and talked about the Peace Corps.
“I had no idea I would meet someone like that,” said Guengerich, referring to the casualness of it.
He also met a local person, Paul McAndrew’s son, who is one of Loebsack’s aides.
“Kind of fun to meet someone from here, back there.”
His nomination for the Iowa award noted that he enjoys his work. And he has a long history of it, including responding to the plea for electricians following the 1964 earthquake in Alaska. He spent several months with the crew there. Additionally, he has served with many of the crews with the Mennonite Disaster Service, working everywhere in response to disaster relief. In the process, he has helped rebuild homes and even towns destroyed by tornadoes, fire and floods.
Guengerich graduated from Coyne Electrical School of Chicago in 1940 and the excitement he felt in bringing electric service to rural homes is matched by what he sees in today’s high tech world.
Admittedly, he says, he has slowed down some, working only 30 to 40 hours per week.
He has been a member of the Wellman Fire Department for more than 50 years, volunteered at the Iowa Mennonite Relief Sale for 15 years, and has sung in the church choir. He and his wife, Elsie (they have been married 66 years) attend local school musicals and sporting events, even though the youngest grandchild graduated 10 years ago.
Family is important to him and he helps out at family reunions, organizes tours of old homesteads and answers questions about family history.
And he really likes the computer and the Internet which keeps him in touch with much of the family.
Aside from memories and lots and lots of photos, Guengerich returned from Washington with a crystal sculpture noting his honor as a 2008 Prime Time older worker.
The awards are given by Experience Works, a national year long effort to salute older workers.
“Older workers are becoming a great issue,” said Iverson, explaining that they are needed.
“There are worker shortages,” she said, explaining that older workers have experience, skills and “many, many are computer literate.”
The older workers “often are working because they are needed,” she said.
However, others “do it to have a sense of purpose and some have financial needs.” But most of all they know how to get a job done.
Guengerich insisted he is not that unusual and “there are lots (of workers) older than me.”
The Iowa award, given to Guengerich at a luncheon in Des Moines September 12, is from the Older Worker Employment Partnership. He was one of 25 final nominees.
When Guengerich was honored, not only family members attended the luncheon but also many of his fellow electricians.
“They are all friends,” he said, noting that all have worked together at various times.