Fire Science’s Westfahl to retire

By Shelby Horton

Hutchinson Community College will be saying goodbye to one of their most treasured employees.

Margy Westfahl, Fire Science Program secretary, has spent 34 and half years in service to HCC.

Making the choice to retire was not an easy one for Westfahl, as she reflected on the years she has spent here.

“The hardest part was deciding to leave,” she said. “It’s like moving into a different phase of life. I’ll miss all of the faculty, staff and students here.”

Westfahl worked for 33 years in the old Fire Science building that was located on HCC’s south campus.

She admits that she didn’t like the old, drafty, World-War-II-vintage building at all.

The best thing about it was that it was so close to her rural home. But the new building is only about a 15-minute drive for her, so she doesn’t mind.

“The new building is beautiful — warm in the winter and cool in the summer,” Westfahl said. “It’s a cleaner environment and so much more inviting than the previous building.”

Her fellow employees, who admire her work ethic and her friendly smile that greets faculty and students each day, will miss her.

“She has been an excellent asset to her position,” said Ron Ediger, fire science instructor. “She really cared for the program. You could see it in her work.”

Saying goodbye to such a hard-working and wonderful person is tough, but he wishes her the best, Ediger said.

In retirement, Westfahl intends to spend time working on her farm; running her lodge, the Irishcreek Lodge; spending time with her husband, and sleeping in.

Westfahl loves interacting with students and staff on a regular basis, alongwith getting to know all different types of people.

It was one of the reasons she has enjoyed her job so much.

“I love the students and staff; it gave me the opportunity to keep in touch with different age groups, and the interactions were always great,” she said.

As Westfahl prepares to retire, it is clear that many students and faculty will miss her presence.

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