Pair Of Longtime Mich. Fast-food Workers Retire From Mcdonald's

NORTH MUSKEGON, MICH (Sunday, August 02, 2009) - When Marlene Wickerink and Janet Chapman decided to retire from the McDonald's restaurant in North Muskegon, more than four decades of experience walked out the door with them.

"In many instances, these are short-term jobs," franchise owner Mark Dahlke told The Muskegon Chronicle for an article published Tuesday. "But these are exceptional people who have taken the job well beyond that. These two people have been great examples to other crew, showing such great commitments to the customers and having such great work ethics."

Wickerink, 72, worked in the lobby and joined the crew in 1989 after raising her two daughters.

Chapman, 65, started there in 1988 but had been working at McDonald's locations in Jackson, Mich., and Indiana since 1980, after raising her two children. She was the voice of the drive-through lane.

Both worked extended part-time hours, Monday through Friday.

"I love working for McDonald's ... they are good people," Chapman said. "I was very shy before working here. This place 'brought me out.'"

"It brings out the better parts of yourself," Wickerink said.

Chapman says she plans to travel with her husband, and crew members say they will be missed.

But they're not the only longtime employees — Dahlke says an additional seven workers at his two area McDonald's locations are approaching 20 years of service.

"We have had extremely low turnover rates," Dahlke said. "I credit that to running a Christian, family business."

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