Bank vice president retires after over 43 years

By CHARITY SMITH

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Wakefield - Lori Modjewski, vice president of operations and human resources at the First National Bank in Wakefield retired on Wednesday after 43 and a half years of service.

"Things are changing, so it's time. Trying to keep up with the technology is getting to be hard at times," Modjewski told the Daily Globe. "I'm just looking for a little bit more relaxing lifestyle. It's time for some of the younger ones to do some of the work."

Modjewski grew up in Wakefield and graduated from Wakefield High School. She met her future husband Michael while attending Gogebic Community College and married him in 1977. She started at the bank as a teller in 1978, shortly after graduating from GCC with an associate degree in data technology.

She worked her way up the ladder over the years. As vice president of operations and human resources, she was in charge of hiring, employee paperwork and payroll. "Anything to do with the employees," she said. She also was responsible for making sure all the tellers' drawers were balanced, dealt with online banking and often handled questions and problems customers might have.

"I like this kind of work - working with numbers and things like that. It's been fun," she said.

Bank president Tony Ringsmuth said he has worked with Modjewski for more than 30 years. He said he started working with her as a teller when he was in high school. He said she's very good with people and with employees, and said she has a strong work ethic.

Ringsmuth said they'll miss her versatility. "She does everything. She can do almost any job at the bank. She has seen a lot of changes - technology. She was here before computers. She will be sadly missed."

Paula Koruga, vice president of loans, who has been best friends with Modjewski since the seventh grade and worked at the bank with her for the last 42 years, said she has a very high character and will be really missed at work. Koruga said they will miss Modjewski's institutional knowledge.

"They call us dinosaurs here sometimes, because we were here way before computers were ever here," said Koruga.

Modjewski said that she has really enjoyed working with her co-workers and the community and that is what she will miss the most about her job. "It's been a nice place to work," she said. "It was nice working in a small community you knew who everybody was. I think that I made a big difference staying here and being comfortable with the people that you work with and the customers."

Modjewski said she and her husband plan to move to Sheboygon, Wisconsin, to be closer to family there.

Jordan Ringsmuth, Tony Ringsmuth's son, will take over for Modjewski. She said she gave her notice last year in order to allow time for her to train someone. "There's lots of things you do once a month, some you do quarterly, some you only do annually. So I gave them a year's notice so we'd have time to train," she said.

Modjewski said she is excited for the next chapter. "You get to a point where you know you are ready," she said. "I just want to have time to enjoy the grandkids."