When Joyce Oliver’s friends and family braved a blizzard to attend her retirement party last week, she couldn’t prevent tears from spilling over.<br /><br />Oliver stressed all day, worried over whether she should cancel the party, but her husband, Bill, told her no, that they should move ahead and see who comes.<br /><br />Oliver has been the auditor/treasurer for Waseca County for the last four years, but has been with the county for 28 years. She retired last month, earlier than planned, due to health reasons. But after not working the last day and a half of her career due to inclement weather followed by taking off for a pleasant vacation in Florida, Oliver says that her retirement feels surreal.<br /><br />“I didn’t work the last day and a half because of the weather and I had planned on saying goodbye to everyone,” she said over the phone from Florida. “It feels like I’m on vacation. Maybe it won’t feel that way when I get home. But that’s the way retirement should be.”<br /><br />Oliver began her career in the court services office in Waseca County back in June of 1985. It was only supposed to be a one-month stint that instead turned into 28 years.<br /><br />“There was a pregnant gal in the auditor’s office,” Oliver said. “She was going on maternity leave and they needed someone while she was gone. So I started in the auditor’s office in September.”<br /><br />Not too long after that, the new mother had decided not to return to her position and Oliver was hired on full-time. The rest is history.<br /><br />In 2010, Oliver was then working as treasurer for Waseca County. The auditor retired that year and the county decided to combine the auditor and treasurer position into one. Oliver was encouraged to run and she got it.<br /><br />“I worked in the auditor’s office for 13 years, so it was the perfect fit,” she said. “It was a challenge I looked forward too. I’ve always enjoyed my job.”<br /><br />Oliver had originally planned on running for re-election this year, but due to health reasons decided against it. For her, it was time to retire … and relax.<br /><br />“We are moving to the lake,” Oliver said. “We bought a lake home on Lake Tetonka in Waterville. It’s been a dream of ours. I just want to be a grandma. I am going to play lots of bridge, fish and babysit. That’s my goal.”<br /><br />Tammy Wynkoop, who has worked with Oliver in the Auditor/Treasurer’s office for the past nine years, is taking her place.<br /><br />“She has helped me every step of the way,” Wynkoop said. “She has been teaching me things every day. She went above and beyond to make sure everything was cross-trained and everyone was valued.”