“It’s about time to get out of here,” Johnny would proclaim just before noon as he headed for the door. Moments later, everyone could hear his intrepid blue sedan rumble to life and pull away.
Johnny G. Mundt, 85, worked at the Keep Alliance Beautiful Recycling Center for the past 16 years. He left a few months ago following an injury before passing away May 5.
In the spring of 2019, I started at KAB on the afternoon shift – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., overlapping with Johnny and the “days” crew for an hour. I soon learned he had been with the organization “forever” (even longer than our supervisor G.O. Thompson), coming onboard when the recycling center was at Harris Sales. I respected the dedication and hard work my co-workers put in every day as they showed me the ropes.
Getting to know the other guys, however, especially on the opposing shift, took time. During the first year I do not recall having a real conversation with Johnny. Looking back, it seemed you had to prove yourself to gain his respect and acceptance. By 2020, I had ridden shotgun a few times with Johnny on cardboard runs and other tasks. One hot day he showed me the best way to park on the sidewalk to empty a pair of bins downtown, then he stopped at the gas station for a Dr. Pepper before finishing the route. He reinforced a work ethic that demands an assigned task be done well before starting the next job.
Retirement has been a familiar concept throughout my working years. I have watched as peers set a date and left or gradually decreased time at the office to train a replacement. In Johnny’s case, he served wherever he was able. Age, from early- to mid-80s, took him from hours retrieving cardboard every morning to baling materials to sorting curbside bags and shredding paper.
Johnny, over his last year, worked “days.” I enjoyed the afternoon breaks as we would sit down and talk about deer hunting, the weather or whatever as he finished a cup of chocolate pudding. Ice cream, however, was his favorite.
G.O. and KAB Executive Director Kathy Worley said Johnny was an Alliance native who worked for the Benda family farming prior to starting at the recycling center.
“(Johnny) would do anything I asked him to do,” G.O. said. “Never, ever would say no.”
Kathy recalled a Heritage Days lip syncing contest at Newberry’s several years ago when two other employees turned her down. Johnny, though, took part in the KAB trio with Kathy and G.O. He “played” the jug, G.O. had a guitar and tapped a washtub and Kathy “sang” to a popular song by Nathaniel Raiteliff. The performance earned first place that night.
Already retirement age by most people’s standards, Johnny hired on at KAB as the community began to embrace recycling. Residents kept filling the trailers, with additional materials accepted as the years went on. A handful at first, then dozens of businesses began recycling cardboard.
Johnny played a key role in the second half of this Keep America Beautiful affiliate’s history as a dedicated worker who sorted, baled and picked up hundreds of tons of materials.
When someone passes away there is a memory or two that linger more than others. I think of sitting in his BBGH hospital room, yet another instance popped into my mind. Earlier this year, Johnny’s car was in the shop and he asked if I could take him home. Stepping out of the center, I saw him already sitting in the newer of the KAB pickups so I slid behind the wheel. Johnny inserted directions here and there in the conversation as I made my way north to his building among the KCOW apartments. Saying thank you for the ride, he declined an offer to accompany him to the apartment upstairs. So, a moment later I looked in and he had climbed the flights without incident. When I remember him, I picture Johnny coming through his door that day and relaxing in front of the TV . . . at rest for a while nearing the end of a lifetime of service.18