Harlan Rodberg and Larry Kearney of Forest City, Iowa, love reminiscing about the collective 100 years they’ve spent at Winnebago Industries.
This story by Mary Pieper originally appeared in the Globe Gazette.
The two men have been chosen as the grand marshals for this year’s Puckerbrush Days Parade, which is July 21.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Rodberg, 73, who retired in 2014 after 50 years of working for Winnebago.
“It’s quite an honor,” said Kearney, 68, who supervises mowing and snow removal at Winnebago. He celebrated his 50th anniversary with company on June 18.
Winnebago is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.
The company launched in Forest City in early 1958. A dozen employees started work on Jan. 28 of that year for what would someday become a leading RV manufacturer.
By the time Rodberg began working at Winnebago in February 1964, he was their 73rd employee. He still has his wooden pin with the number 73 on it.