LOCAL SPOTLIGHT community. It would seem Left, Joe Rychlik retired from a career at the he’s got his hands in just Caldwell Post Office, about everything from the taking with him fond Kolache Festival to the Czech memories and lively Heritage Society. He and his stories to share with wife, Donna, also assist with others. the worship music during the Saturday evening Mass at St. Mary Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. And that isn’t all. Joe visits residents at nursing homes, runs errands for those in need, and also serves as the unofficial local historian at times. “My dad was always interested in people,” Joe shared. “People always called him to ask: ‘Who’s so-and-so’s mother? Who is their family?’ I share his interest in people and now a lot of people call on me to ask, “Who was their mother?’ I’ve been around town so much because of my career at the post office. See, when you have a post office, you have a captive business. There might be three or four gas stations or grocery stores in town, but there is only one post office and everyone goes there.”
TRUE TO HIS ROOTS
Meet Mr. Caldwell JOE RYCHLIK TALKS OF LAUGHS, LOVE AND SERVICE TO HIS COMMUNITY By Michelle Banse Stokes, photos by Emily Henderson
Affectionately known as Mr. Caldwell by the locals, Joe Rychlik is an icon in these parts. There are not too many people in the area that he doesn’t know and, similarly, there are not too many people in Caldwell that don’t know this smiling man with his signature faded overalls. After retiring from a life-long career of serving his community at the Caldwell Post Office in 2001, Joe’s gregarious nature has kept him active in his
Above, Joe and his wife, Donna, serve the congregation with a happy heart at St. Mary Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Caldwell.
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