REEDSBURG, Wis. — For the past 54 years Jim Diece has been the first hello and the last goodbye each school day for generations of kids. In August of 1967, at age 27, Diece drove his first route for the Reedsburg School District. On May 25th, 2021, at age 81, he drove his last.
“I’ve enjoyed every minute of it,” he said.
The wheels on his bus that have gone round and round for decades reached their final destination Tuesday morning.
“I think my age gets me. My reactions aren’t as fast as they used to be. I’ll let somebody younger take over,” Diece said. “I’ll be spending time at home, taking care of my wife who had a stroke four years ago and take care of my little puppy dog.”
Caring for others is a key quality that everyone seems to notice about him.
According to Pineview Elementary School Associate Principal Matt Peetz, “Everything about Jim was students first and caring about them as individuals to remember their birthday. That was a special thing he would always do was remember their birthdays. That’s tough to do with a full bus of students that are constantly changing.”
Principal of Prairie Ridge Intermediate School Clint Beyer said, “When a child got on that bus, he cared for them more than just a bus route. He cared for them on who they were. It’s just so rare and so neat and he just lived it.”
Diece has lived it for about as long as he’s been able to, retiring close to 20 years later than most.
“It’s been something for me to do. I don’t fish and I don’t hunt,” Diece said.
School staff and administration members cheered for Diece as he pulled into the bus parking lot for the last time Tuesday morning.
“The only thing I can say to Jim is thank you,” said Reedsburg school board member Gary Woolever. “He’s picked kids up from school and delivered them back home safely for 54 years and that’s commendable.”
Diece said his last day was emotional but happy.
“It will be different not getting up at 5:30 every morning but I’ll learn to sleep in I hope,” he said.
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