Newton Fareway manager retires after 26 years

Steven Henscheid has spent the past 26 years as the store manager at the Newton Fareway, and recently, after some deliberation, he has announced his retirement.

Henscheid’s journey with Fareway started in February of 1979, serving its customers for the past 40 years.

“I started in Harlan. That’s where I went to school. I’m from a small town around Harlan,” Henscheid said.

Henscheid’s mother ran a grocery store that was connected to the post office where his father was the post master. As a child, Henscheid worked in the grocery store for a couple of years.

Henscheid has been in Newton since Maytag was still in town, which left more than 10 years ago. He has been able to see the town change over the years with businesses leaving and new ones coming in.

“At that time, Maytag was peaking out, they were doing fantastic business. I just remember one of the first years I was here there was at that time rumors about them leaving town, and there was a big push to keep them in town,” Henscheid said.

Henscheid said store wise most of the changes that have spanned his career have been the products customers can purchase and the way they purchase them.

“Even the variety of produce you get, the variety of the different items you get in the stores — it’s tremendous and technology has advanced with neck break speed,” Henscheid said.

Henscheid reminisced back to when stores were stamping items and that certain produce wasn’t available all year round. Even the simple things everyone has embraced these days.

“None of our stores sold water, not even gallon jugs,” Henscheid said. “I remember back when I was in produce many years ago you didn’t get watermelon all year long ... You never saw watermelon in the middle of winter.”

Working with a company for 40 years isn’t something that should be taken lightly and Henscheid has a lot of favorite things he’s had over the past 20-plus years with the Newton Fareway.

“I say it’s dumb luck because I have been able to hire some good people ... Newton’s a good community,” Henscheid said. “I felt really glad that I got down here in central Iowa, and especially Newton because I had heard so many good things about Newton.”

Henscheid does have plans for what he wants to do with his retirement including traveling but the main activity he is looking forward to is slowing down a little bit.

“Actually just kind of take it easy, slow down, I won’t have to get up at 4:30 every morning ... It’ll be nice to sleep in,” Henscheid said.

Henscheid has worked with a lot of people over the years, and he has left an impression on them for the work he has done.

“He’s alright. He has his days, mostly good,” scanning coordinator Amber Fisher said jokingly. She was quick to add, “He’s a good boss.”

Henscheid said he has gotten know many people over the years, some he sees almost every day. He will miss those interactions.

“Newton has been fantastic for me,” he said.

Contact Dustin Teays at 641-792-3121 ext. 6533 or dteays@newtondailynews.com