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Ed “Jake” Lonkoski is living the dream
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By Daniel McGonigle
Argus Managing Editor
As Ed “Jake” Lonkoski looked across the Mississippi River towards Wisconsin on the landing at Wildcat Park in Brownsville he summed it up as this: “look around. How could you not love this every day?”
It was the same view and area that Lonkoski had worked nearly 30 years as a rural mail carrier in Brownsville and Hokah.
The long time mail carrier hung up his bag and became the manager at the Wildcat Park.
“The only reason I hung it up was last winter did it in for me,” he said. “The roads were the worst I’ve ever seen.”
It was a job he’d done in some capacity since 1981.
Lonkoski went from a job he really appreciated to “the best job in the world.”
As park manager, Lonkoski takes reservations, works around the park to keep it clean and cleans the rest rooms and shower areas.
“Picking up garbage, those kinds of things,” said Lonkoski. “I live down here five months.”
Lonkoski has a kitchen area and living space right off the park office.
“I get to wake up to this everyday,” said Lonkoski motioning around to the beautiful Brownsville and Mississippi River Valley scenery.
The park offers 49 campsites and offers campers the opportunity to camp in tents as well.
When asked what he’d miss about his mail route Lonkoski replied: “I really enjoyed delivering the people’s mail. I met a lot of nice folks.”
He added he’d also miss working with the Eitzen and Brownsville postmasters Barb Keehn and Diana Novak.
You can contact Daniel McGonigle at
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