TAMARACK, Minn. — For most of us, retirement will come in our 60s. But Aitkin County mail carrier Bill Onstad is anything but your average worker.
When asked how many years he’s been a mail carrier, Onstad quickly replies, “Well, that’s what I don’t know. I can’t remember when I started.”
At the tender age of 96, Onstad has been hauling mail on his rural Aitkin County route since 1969 — some 47 years.
It’s said that rain or shine, snow or sleet, nothing stops the U.S. mail. Spend a day with Onstad and you’d add age to the list.Everyday he’d visit the mailboxes of residents along a 40-mile route to rural customers around his home of Tamarack, population 94.
Source: At 96, Rural Mail Carrier Smashes Normal Retirement Age « WCCO | CBS Minnesota
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SMH
Oh hell no…that will not be me!!! I can’t wait to retire!!!!!
Delivering from the left side of his vehicle?
That’s the first thing I noticed.
me too….my ass be fired if I did that
Me too!! How can he do that?
After reading the article, I wonder if he’s a contract carrier. There really aren’t any details.
and from wrong side of the road too,
Patti Cawood , I’ve seen our subs do that. They refuse to learn to do it right & won’t “alter” their vehicles to allow it.
He is a contract carrier he doesn’t have very many boxes he lost his job when he asked for a pay raise
It’s illegal to drive in the wrong lane! they could get fired for that. I deliver out of the middle
He must be fired.!!!!!!
Thats Awesome..
If you’re wondering how good retirement plan is. Hes working because he can’t afford to retire. Probably went regular at 70.
Lol I was thinking the same
don’t know if he’s still there however there was a man at Haysland that has been delivering mail since before 1962. He was there about 4 yrs ago..
Started in 1969. 40 mile route with a population of 96. Sounds like an Aux route.
Disgrace! Taking a job away from someone who really needs one
Really??? Ron, how do you know he doesn’t need it!!!?? He has earned the right to work as long as he wants to. I’ve been working for 31yrs. & I hear from the newbies why don’t you retire, we need to work? Well guess what, I need to work & paid my dues & I’ll work as long as I damn well please!
He has every right to keep working if he’s capable. He earned the right and does not owe it to anyone other than himself to retire.
Jesse Koleszar tell that to the family he’s taking a job away from
How is he taking a job away from someone? These others you speak of didn’t have the job in the first place.
Jesse Koleszar and the people who take the test? There is now one less job to be hired for. Not that hard to figure out
If that were my dad still working would you say the same thing? Maybe he needs the job…
Dainty Effin Flower I would. Nobody needs to work at 96. A young man/woman who’s starting a family needs it more.
I guess you just know it all then …
Dainty Effin Flower u said it not me. I worked with an 81 year old up until about a year ago. He didn’t need to work. He had a military, postal & train engineer pension. He only worked because he felt he was gonna die if he stopped. Everyone I worked with including management hated him because of the reason I stated above
By your logic Ron, one should only work if they need to and only to a certain age. It sure sounds like the guy enjoys what he does. You make it sound as if the guy is literally taking food out of the mouths of people who have not been hired yet. Many don’t stick around as it is. His work ethic is admirable. In the scenario you just described, their hatred is THEIR problem and theirs alone. It’s not a popularity contest.
Jesse Koleszar u r absolutely right he should only work to a certain age. That’s y there is a retirement age! I’m done with this post. U have your opinion & I have mine. U do realize he’s gonna die on his route?
What do you expect, Ron supports trump.
Ron, we all have to die somewhere! Who knows you might go before him while waiting on his route. If I knew someone like you were waiting for me to retire I’d crawl on that route everyday. Just remember you will be in his shoes someday, with a newbie waiting to kick you to the curb! Good Luck!
Julie Layne Brown Lisa Galloway, Ughh!! Are we gonna work til we are 96??
Wow. I hope we are snowbirds by then. ?
Richard Powell, are you trying to break his record? 😉
wow, he has 26 years on me, he must be in real good shape
probably a hi way contract route,
That’ll be me someday
Kudos to him. The fact that he has been able to do the job for that long says a lot. Glad it’s something that gives him some joy.
He’s a contract employee he lost his job when he asked for a raise for serious watch the video. He did not have very many boxes
Dean Land you can still do it
Stephanie Simpson this will be your dad!!
Yes it will. That means he still had 30 more years. He just loves you girls. He always tells us he lives the ones he works with. You all are good to him
Yes it will. That means he still had 30 more years. He just loves you girls. He always tells us he lives the ones he works with. You all are good to him
Stephanie Simpson we all love him to?
Is he delivering from the wrong side?
Not Safe ! Where is safety?
Ron, I agree that our opinions differ and that’s ok. With all due respect, no one has the right to make the decision to retire for him unless he’s no longer able to do the job. If someone behind him doesn’t want to wait, they could always seek employment elsewhere.
It is a contract route, 40 miles in a town with a population of 90 some residents. Don’t think there are any benefits on a contract route.
WOW, I hope I’m not still out there at 96. But bless his heart it gave him a reason to get up of a morning. I hope the boredom and loneliness of not working now doesn’t do him in. God Bless him.
Well he is looking good for his age!