Small Town News

Donna Reuter Retires After 55-Year Run as Alma Businesswoman

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How many papers can you shuffle in a 55-year period of time? Last week businesswoman Donna Reuter sat in her office and reflected on her career. As she did, she referred to twenty, four-drawer file cabinets that line the walls of her office on main street, Alma.

Donna remarked that she had several boxes of records still in need of filing, however, the cabinets are full and there is no more room for additional cabinets. Without question there are thousands and thousands of records and each, at one time or anther, have been touched by her.

Reuter said that when her late husband, LeRoy ("Lee"), returned from the service in 1955 she went to work for Wabaunsee County Attorney Vic Hergenreter. The following year, Hergenreter lost his re-election bid to Charles Waugh. Donna stayed on and worked with Waugh until Hergenreter opened a law office in downtown Alma. Hergenreter's office was shared by Farm Bureau Insurance Agent Ray Watkins. Reuter worked for both offices until December 1960 when Hergenreter purchased the abstract office across the street. She remained there until her retirement. Hergenreter purchased the abstract business from Hal Weaver, who incidentally had taken over the business from his father who had started it in 1896.

Reuter worked for Hergenreter, where she learned the abstract business, and in 1972 purchased the business when Hergenreter moved from Alma.

Donna has operated the business since, and just recently announced that she sold it with plans to retire. Lawyers Title of Tope-ka, owned by Hayden St. John, and his sons David and Chris, are the new owners. Phillip Poitevin will be the manager of the office. Poitevin lives in the Paxico Community.

"I have a lot of things at home that have been neglected for a long time. I guess I'll try to catch up on some of those projects," said Reuter.

She went on to say that she is pretty much a homebody, and looks forward to spending time enjoying her farm home west of Alma.

Reuter added that through her long career she has met many wonderful people and enjoys lasting relationships and friendships. "The advancement in technology is the biggest change I have noticed. When I started I used a manual typewriter," she added.

Reuter also said that a big change in her profession is that many people now use title insurance as opposed to abstracts.

It wasn't clear whether the long and grueling winter had anything to do with Donna's decision to retire and avoid the five-mile drive to town.

"If we get a big snow storm now, I'll just sit inside and look at it," she said.



Copyright 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise, Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.

© 2010 The Wabaunsee County Signal-Enterprise Alma, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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