Muller retires following 49 years with local pharmacies

     After 49 years of working in one profession, it’s safe to say that person clearly enjoyed their job, and the people they worked with and served.

     Galen Muller is retiring from his long stint with a local pharmacy and gift shop on Friday, June 22. Muller started working for Long Drug and late-owner Phil Tuetken in 1969 after he graduated from Scared Heart High School. He remained a loyal employee of Tuetken’s for 45 years, even serving as an honorary pallbearer at Tuetken’s funeral last week. Once Long Drug closed its doors, Muller continued to work for Hartig Drug at the same location for three and a half years.

     At 67, Muller said it’s time to step away and focus on his health.

     “It’s getting tougher to get around,” he said of his hip and leg problems.

     In early July, Muller heads to the University of Iowa City Hospitals and Clinics for some much-needed surgery. “I’ve been putting it off for a long time,” he shared. “People tell me I need to do it now versus waiting 10 years. I need to do it while I’m still healthy.”

     There will be an all-day reception for Muller at Hartig Drug on June 22. The public, former co-workers, customers of Muller’s are encouraged to stop in for cake and beverages and wish Muller good luck in retirement.

     When Muller first started working for Long Drug in the beginning, the business was just a few years old. “I really didn’t have a job description,” he said.

     Muller took on various duties such as stocking the shelves, ordering merchandise, and delivering prescriptions to local residents’ homes and to the nursing home. when Hartig Drug opened its doors, Muller and a few of the former Long Drug employees remained on, and Muller continued his deliveries. Even becoming a registered pharmacy support person through the State of Iowa.

     “The regulations tighten up,” he said of a change in the times.

     Throughout all of his years working for both pharmacies, Muller said he never had to go to school for training; it was all on-the-job training.

     In addition to delivering prescriptions and medications for Hartig, Muller also took mail-outs to the Post Office and provided some janitorial services as well.

     He said the biggest change from Long Drug to Hartig was the use of computers. Thankfully, that wasn’t something Muller had to learn.

     He said the retail end of things for the business has also gotten more competitive.

     “It’s how the business is,” he said.

     Muller said working for Tuetken all those years was like working for your one family.

     “So many of the Tuetkens were involved in the business, and you got to know their family,” he said.

     In fact, Muller said he’s remained close with his current co-workers as well, and said they will be a big part of what he’ll miss.

     “I’ve always had good people to work with,” he praised. “And I always looked forward to coming to work. The customers were always pleasant, which makes the job easier.”

     Muller said while he could have taken a leave of absence from Hartig Drug for his surgery, he feels it’s time to step away. “I’m leaving on good terms for sure,” he said.

     He said Tuetken was always very lenient when it came to leaving work for family situations, especially when Muller’s mom required attention before her passing in 2001.

     “Working for a family business, I was able to help her out,” he said.

     As for why he remained with the same business for so many years, Muller said it was plus not having to drive out of town for work.

     Muller said after the surgery, he’ll have time to concentrate on several months of rehab, with a plan to get back on his feet in time for the 50^th anniversary of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Rod & Customer Car Show in Monticello in February.

     “I’m told my rehab could be nine months to a year,” he said. “I want to be adventurous and try to make it go quicker.” Muller said he thinks the fact that he’s remained active is a plus. “I’m fortunate I’ve been active all these years.”

     Muller said it takes time to plan the car show every year, and the 50^th will be a special event for sure.

     “It was nice all these years to be working local when planning and organizing the car show,” he said.

     Aside from recuperating, Muller also hopes to carve out time to work on his family history and genealogy project, both the Muller and Kurt sides of his family. (Muller’s mom was a Kurt.)

     “I have lots and lots of clippings from the Express I want to organize,” he said. His mom did some research on the Kurts, and Muller said he gets the bug from her.

     When Muller’s retirement was announced, he said it was bittersweet with Tuetken passing away around the same time.

     “I was surprised they asked me to be a pallbearer,” he said. “I didn’t realize what I meant to the family.”

     Muller will miss the memories he’s created with so many co-workers and visiting with his customers. “I have no regrets,” he said.

     Hartig Drug is located at 419 E. First St. Their hours on June 22 are 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.