The Kroger way: Seven to retire, 38 will transfer, 15 to pursue other careers after March 23

Valerie Guetersloh came to the Kroger store in Du Quoin 39 years ago on January 31, 1974. At the time, the store was located on South Washington Street. It was through the Du Quoin High School's cooperative student work program sponsored by the late Jim King. "I came in January and "Buzzie" Armstrong came in July. That was July 30, 1974, to be exact. Together they brought 78 years of experience to Kroger's 99-year run in Du Quoin. They are part of the great store tradition that has been all about family and community. It's that thing called the Kroger Way. Valerie said a big part of the store's service was to the town's senior citizens. "Senior Citizens Day was the first Wednesday of every month," said associate store manager Linda Hobbs.

Du Quoin's senior shoppers know employees by their first name. Employees were quick to help at every turn--items they could not find or that their vision would no longer allow them to find, single cuts of meat as their families shrank or a new item seen on television that "I have to try."

Valerie worked as a cashier for six years, then as customer service manager for 22 years. "Now I am back to being a cashier," she smiles, almost timeless in her look and the way she treated customers.

"A lot of us have been together for 30 years," she says.

Brian Rusiewski, acting manager from the Nashville Kroger store, said, "You get to know the people."

It is part of a Kroger heritage that is celebrating 130 years. In fact, Du Quoin employees still have store photos from the Kroger Centennial celebration in 1983. Some wore long dresses to make an 1880s fashion statement, Valerie remembers. Snapshots of store events over the decades fill albums.

As the store nears its March 23 closure, 38 Du Quoin employees have chosen to transfer to other Kroger stores. Fifteen are pursuing other interests or career opportunities and seven are choosing to retire. They are: Deanna Boyd, Renee Dintleman, Valerie Guetersloh, Carole Heape, Linda Hobbs, Wayne Purdie and Bobby Williams.

Employees at the Du Quoin store belong to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union Local No. 881 based in Rosemont, Ill.

Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan recently thanked Kroger for its run in Du Quoin and said the town's challenge now is to bring all of the city's resources to bear on the future of employees and to identify a new tenant for the building. Property managers have already been on the premises to take measurements and take notes on the key selling points of the property.

But, Linda says on Day 1 after the closure announcement, the Kroger Company was there for staff members. Linda said, "A representative from Man-Tra-Con job services was here with information on job opportunities and schooling. Representatives from Illinois unemployment were on site as a convenience to employees. Our counselor from Magellion (Kroger's counseling service) was here for three days. A Kroger human resources representative was here and has been here several times since. The district manager has worked closely with all associates to try and place them in the best locations. Every person in the store has been offered a position with Kroger."

Employees say the shock of the announcement--which came on the forecast of an anticipated $600,000 store loss--is followed by a determination to move on and to be the best members of the Southern Illinois work force they can be. It is harder for some than others.

For Valerie, she looks at life optimistically since a heart attack in 2003. "I guess it was my second chance," she said. You can talk about the frustration of writing the daily and weekly cash sheets in pencil until they balanced, or the changes in Kroger software, or the year the store converted to UPC product bar code scanning. They are all part of doing business.

But, Linda and Valerie choose to talk about the people and how they were always there for each other: a birthday, a retirement, a sick child in the family, the weddings and the loss of loved ones.

"We won't be together anymore," said one employee of the produce department last week. Yes, you are. Just remember.