Librarian Ellen Thiele announces retirement; Reception planned ...

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is honored to celebrate the career of Ellen Thiele, who will retire December 21 of this year after 30 years of service to the library and the Waukon community. In honor of her retirement, Robey Memorial Library will host a reception Saturday, December 21 in its community room from 1-4 p.m. The community is invited to share stories, memories and cake.

When Ellen Thiele began her library career in 1994 she was following in familiar footsteps. Her mother, Mrs. Ellen Thiele, served on Robey Memorial Library’s Board of Trustees for 25 years. During that time, the library moved from City Hall to its current location on First Avenue NW. Thiele’s work as a librarian saw the further expansion of the library in 2014. Her career, alongside her mother’s years of service, has profoundly impacted the Waukon community and made Robey Memorial Library become a leader in cultural and community life.

“Ellen is irreplaceable; the Thiele legacy at the library spans nearly a half century. Someone joked to me, what’s Robey without a Thiele?,” said Cate St. Clair, Library Director. “All of us at the library, from patrons to staff and the library board, are immensely grateful to Ellen for her and her family’s decades of service to the library and the Waukon community. She will be missed.”

Pictured in the submitted photo above are Robey Memorial Library staff members (left to right) Ellen Krousie, Ellen Thiele, Cate St. Clair and Chris Kerndt. For more information about the reception or to share memories of Ellen Thiele, contact Cate St. Clair at 563-568-4424 or through email at cates@waukon.lib.ia.us.