Starkebaum retires; new postmaster appointment forthcoming

Holyoke postmaster Steve Starkebaum retired at the end of June. It was 27 and a half years ago when Starkebaum started his career with the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier in Sterling. 

After about a year, he joined the Holyoke post office as a part-time letter carrier, which eventually became a full-time position. He later worked as a clerk until receiving the postmaster appointment in 2016. 

In looking back over his long career, he especially noted that the onset of the ability to purchase goods via online ordering resulted in a change to the whole face of the postal service. 

Starkebaum says he enjoyed his career and that it was a good career. In his words, “I made a lot of good acquaintances along the way and good friends for life.” With fondness and genuine appreciation, he added, “Thanks to all the people of Holyoke. It’s been wonderful!” 

The U.S. Postal Service’s Colorado Wyoming district office in Denver has charge over filling the vacant postmaster position. James Boxrud, a communications liaison with the district office, described the postal service’s general hiring process as beginning with verifying that the retiring person has officially retired. In some cases, the person may have stopped working but is using up paid time off. 

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