T-R PHOTO BY ROBERT MAHARRY A retirement reception was held for Marshall County Clerk of Court Carol Haney inside the courthouse on Thursday. Haney held the position for 12 years.

After 15 years total working for the state and 12 of those as the Marshall County Clerk of Court, Carol Haney celebrated a well-earned retirement with colleagues, friends and her husband, Judge John Haney, at the Marshall County Courthouse on Thursday afternoon.

Haney, a Marshalltown native who still resides here, started her career working in a law office and then became a manager at Radioshack for about 20 years before taking her first state job in Story County for two years and subsequently coming over to Marshall County as a member of the clerk of courts staff before being promoted to clerk a year later.

John, her husband of 43 years who also plans to retire next May, became a district court judge after Carol assumed her position.

“I would probably say the terminology and understanding the law and helping people that were trying to struggle through the quagmire of it all (appealed to me),” she said. “Just helping people.”

The job includes a wide range of duties, but she was able to share the load among a staff of eight. When asked what she’ll miss the most, Carol was quick to answer that it was the people she worked with from her own staff to the county attorney’s office, law enforcement and attorneys involved in various cases.

“Your work people are your work family,” she said.

Former coworkers Paula Purvis, Regina Smith and Cindy Degner described Haney as a hard worker who always supported them when they had concerns, stayed on top of any task that came her way, remembered their birthdays and anniversaries, accommodated family emergencies and always lent a hand when someone needed assistance navigating Iowa Code.

In retirement, she plans to travel more, visit their two children who live in Florida and work on projects she may have put off before. Replacing Haney is Allison Munro of Iowa Falls, who starts her job on Friday and will be serving as Clerk of Court for both Hardin and Marshall counties.

“She’s been a great trainer, especially with her being here for so long that she has all the knowledge I don’t have. So she’s been great at the transition of me joining and kind of showing me the ropes of everything,” Munro said. “I feel like after the last month, I’ve been somewhat prepared to take on her role. So it’s been good.”

Munro previously worked as a Child Court Supervisor for Hardin, Webster, Calhoun, Wright and Hamilton counties for seven years. She is inheriting a young staff but is excited about the opportunity.

“I know a lot of the staff is fairly new, but they all work together. They all train with each other, and I think we can bounce off each other and be successful in that way,” she said. “I would say (Haney’s) positivity and just the environment that she’s created, I believe that I’ll be able to keep that going… She’s been great, and I wish her the best in her retirement and she deserves it. And I hope she has a relaxing retirement.”

And if Munro has a question, Haney is only a phone call away.

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Contact Robert Maharry at 641-753-6611 ext. 255 or rmaharry@timesrepublican.com.