They work hard for the money: Five Lansing, Iowa women decided retirement was just too darn boring. So, they went back to work, this time with their own business

La Crosse Tribune, May 14, 1994 by Moore, Pat

LANSING, Iowa--Inside RK's Coffee Nook on Lansing's Main Street, owner Rosemary Knopf wishes out loud that she'd gotten a bigger sign to hang out front.

Despite the size of her sign, her cafe isn't lacking for customers. Or friends. What makes Knopf's cafe special isn't just the great home cooking. It's the people who run the place.

They are women who are at, or past, retirement age. They give the place a special feel. A friendly feel.

For Knopf, who has lived among Lansing's 1,300 residents her entire 68 years, it's a new job. She already retired once after 35 years at the Lansing Co. "I'm a farm girl inside out," Knopf confesses.

Knopf started in the plant at the Lansing Co., packing buttons and filling orders. She ended up as a buyer--and a seller as well--often going to shows and selling buttons at the large notions shows held in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

"This place happened accidentally," he said, glancing around her coffee shop. A year ago it was still the dress shop she started 20 years ago in a building she owned. Once her day at the Lansing Co. was done, she'd stop by and work a couple of hours at the dress shop.

"When I'd come from work, I'd stop here for a few hours to work and friends would stop by to visit," said Knopf, who's single. "We'd sit and have coffee, and I'd cook a meal sometimes."

Once she decided to get out of the dress business, she decided to get into the cafe business by remodeling and adding a few tables and chairs.

Now RK's Coffee Nook, the home of great strawberry pie, and soup and sandwich noon specials, is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. six days a week. There are enough tables and chairs for at least 48 diners.

"We're not in competition with Lansing's three supper clubs," she added.

What you'll notice--besides how fast the pie sells out--is that including Knopf--the other four women who work there are all retirement age--if not retired. That is, except for Knopf's niece, Ruth Wall, who's 40ish and who is the part-time pie baker.

This day it happens to be Esther Walleser, a 68-year-old mother of 16 and grandmother of 25, who is doing the cooking. "I taught country school before I was married. Now I cook one day a week and work part-time as an outreach worker for Northland Agency."

Winnie Ferring is also retired after 23 years of working in the office at the Lansing Co. with Knopf. Besides the cafe, she also works part-time at the nursing home. "I just like to keep busy. I'm not into soap operas on TV and I don't do crafts," she added. "It's therapy, too," added Ferring, who is still coping with the recent death of a grandson.

Betty Yoeman, who is also retired from the Lansing Co., also waitresses and cooks. Liz Burroughs, retired from Northern Engraving after 17 years, has four children and 11 grandchildren.

Knopf even has some volunteer help. Don Stern, who's in his 70s, stops by the post office and gets the cafe's mail; then stops by the place and takes care of the garbage. Marguerite Beck is a volunteer dishwasher who does dishes for her lunch and likes the camaraderie.

A retirement of leisure? These women still want to work--even if it is mostly part-time. And somehow, at the right place, it really doesn't seem like work. It's the coming together of friends.

The customers, too, are friendly and candid with their comments. One fellow pointed to the mannequin in one corner, a mannequin that has made guest appearances at everything from a school play to a grand opening. "That's the only waitress that doesn't give me any static," he says, grinning.

Another customer wasn't grinning at first. "If I'd known they were going to take pictures here today, I'd of worn my teeth," he said.

Then he smiled.

Yoeman, mother of five and grandmother of 15, said: "I love it here. We want everyone to feel like it's their living room away from home. We have little coffee groups that meet here. Some have birthday parties here, too. Some play cards."

Does she know everybody in the place? She glances around and nods: "Pretty much."

She added: "But on the weekend there was a couple from Stillwater, Minnesota, in here. Then there was that couple from Colorado, who were zig-zagging across the country..."

Another customer said: "This is a meeting place where people can meet their friends and sit and talk. There's no smoking. And no jukebox music."

Added Knopf: "I plan to stick with retired people to help me, if at all possible. They're very dependable."