Jody Mauck retires after 32-year Career

You’d think after three decades of working outside in the hottest summers and the coldest snow storms, you might find Jody Mauck relaxing indoors these days. You’d be wrong. Asked to describe his ideal retirement, the long-time maintenance operator for the Adams County Highway Department talks about hunting and fishing, and taking the grandkids sledding and ice-skating. “Without having to plow, I’ll enjoy winter now,” said Mauck, with a laugh. “I like being outside. I farmed full-time until I started with Adams County, then part-time after that. With this job, you’d travel northeast to southwest in the county, doing something different every day. I think I would have found any other job boring.” Mauck retired at the end of January, leaving behind 18 co-workers he describes as “family”. He said he was happy to retire while he still enjoyed his job and will miss knowing what’s going on in the county. He said he might do some part time summer mowing in the future if they need him but said for now, he’s pretty busy at home. “Five days after I retired, I had to rush my 91- year old mother to the emergency room,” said Mauck. “They found late stage cancer. Until then, she had lived independently at home.” He is happily playing caregiver these days and feels fortunate that the timing of his retirement worked out. He was already doing maintenance on his mom’s place, his mother- in-law’s farm, and his own farm located 18 miles outside of Quincy. While he doesn’t actively farm the land anymore and rents it instead, he said there is still plenty to be done. “The outbuildings need maintenance, and everything needs to be mowed and the fence lines trimmed,” said Mauck. “I also have a short list of construction needs on my own house.” He and his wife, Jo, also have four kids (2 boys, 2 girls) and ten grandchildren, ages 2 to 20, so the Maucks spend lots of hours warming the bleachers at basketball, volleyball, and cheerleading. Not to mention plenty of time at the farm with the grandkids. “We go four-wheeling and golf cart riding when they’re here,” said Mauck. “I want them to love the outdoors.” He is also an avid mushroom hunter, and he and Jo plan to travel when things slow down. For now, though, he said needs to stay fairly close to home for his mother and, also, his mother-in-law, who is 92 years old and still lives on her family farm. “Neither of them takes bossing very well,” said Mauck, with a chuckle. “But I’m glad I’m able to help