Bernie Mapanao used to cut grass in Winslow with the city’s first piece of purchased equipment, a 1950s Ford tractor.

And while that relic of municipal service gathers dust in the city’s Public Works Department yard, another institution is coming to an end.

Mapanao, the city’s longest serving employee, is calling it quits after more than 37 years.

“I didn’t think I would ever stay this long,” he said on his final day of work last week. “Guess I didn’t know what I was going to get myself into.”

During his period of employment, beginning in January 1972, the city rose from a population of about 1,000 residents and boomed to more than 23,000. When he took the job, he was one of five employees working for the small city of Winslow.

“My first day, I didn’t know what I was doing,” he said.

But since then, he has had his hands in all aspects of Public Works, including city utilities, painting, flagging and many other odd jobs. All of which have made him one of the most recognized faces in a city uniform.

“My girls grew up on the island… when they were little they would point him out and it struck me that thousands of people knew who he was,” said city employee Kelly Tayara. “He was always out working in rain, snow and sunshine. He was always friendly and always upbeat.”

Mapanao was born in California and moved to the Northwest when he was two. After living on the island for 50 years, he moved to Poulsbo, where he lives with his wife, Sallie.

Together they raised nine children, but are now looking forward to some time together to travel around the region.

“I’ll be glad just seeing him once in a while,” Sallie said. “I was thinking a bit ago, with his hours and rest time and bed time, I might see him three hours a day. I look forward to seeing him more than that.”

Of course retiring these days does come with a bit of uncertainty.

“Well, it was scary in a way, because it is such a big change,” Sallie said. “But it’s also an opportunity to start a new life, a new beginning.”

Mapanao is leaving as the city is just starting to recover from making some deep cuts to its work force. It is something he hasn’t seen in all his time as a city employee.

“This is the first time this ever happened, and it was a shock to everybody,” he said.

Mapanao announced his retirement when the city was looking to make layoffs from Public Works. Although he doesn’t cite it as a reason for leaving, Mapanao, 64, spared one layoff in the department with his retirement.

“I wanted to retire,” he said. “I’m getting up in age, and I want to do something while I’m still healthy. It’s been a good career for me, but I said when it’s time for me to go, I’ll know.”

Mapanao says he’ll mostly miss the people he works with, being able to joke with “the guys” and even “picking up” after them.

But mostly he’s looking forward to a break in his 37-year routine.

“I’m happy I’m going to retire and see what it’s like not to work for the first time in a long time,” he said.