Long-time employee retires from Colfax Post Office

COLFAX - Colfax Post Office worker Deanna Leinweber is retiring from the post office after 36 years.

Deanna and her husband, Howard, Leinweber spoke to the Gazette on Tuesday, March 26, on Mrs. Leinweber's time serving the Colfax community and their plans for when she retires.

Mrs. Leinweber said that she had started at the Colfax Post Office because her mother thought it would be a good fit. "Her mother convinced her to take the civil service test, so she could apply for a postal job," Mr. Leinweber said.

"My big thing is playing Santa Claus every day, bringing people what they're looking for," Mrs. Leinweber said, adding that she enjoys making everybody's day by making sure they get their packages and mail. "Back in the day it was letters and now it's packages," she said.

Mrs. Leinweber has spent 42 years living/residing in Colfax, originally from Endicott. "I've lived here forever," she said, adding that a lot of the names were the same from each town so she never felt like an outsider.

"A lot of people say when you're gone we're not going to be able to go three generations back," she said, noting that she has dealt with three generations of people, if not four. "There is a lot of comfort space knowing people," she said.

As a post office worker Mrs. Leinweber has seen a lot of firsts working with the community, and has worked under almost a dozen postmasters.

As for her retirement, the Leinwebers are looking forward to travelling the United States on their motorcyle, and getting to spend more time with her grandkids. "It seems kind of strange," Mrs. Leinweber said of retiring, "but it's going to be a good thing."

"A lot of the United States to see," Mr. Leinweber said, adding that he is gonna drag her to Reno this summer.

"My favorite people are my customers and my truck drivers," she said, adding that it's all an interaction with the morning with the truck drivers, to fellow workers and to customers. "Every part of my day is good. It's like a dream come true every day, and then I go home exhausted," she said.

"She likes to visit so she enjoys her customers," her husband said.

As for Mrs. Leinweber's customers she thanks them for their patience and kindness over the years. "You know who you are," she said with a smile.