Simply unbeatable! Res Gehri retires after 49 years in the team

Congratulations on his 65th birthday and his forthcoming retirement

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Res Gehri is one of a kind: he has remained loyal to Gehri for 49 years — from apprenticeship to retirement, and this without being related — and has put all his energy and skill into his work, year after year.

Solid as a rock, he witnessed and supported all the changes in the carpentry industry for half a century. We thank Res for his loyalty, his commitment and the excellent work he has always delivered. We will miss his proverbial calmness, his professional skills and his trenchant remarks, and we will remember him fondly.

 

Interview with Res Gehri

  1. Not related and still a Gehri — is this an advantage or disadvantage?
    It was neither an advantage nor a disadvantage for me during the all the time.
  2. You seem extremely relaxed; is there anything that makes you lose your cool?
    In good Bernese German: «Lirisieche» (chatterers, complainers, whiners), who say the same thing a hundred times or talk about things they know nothing about. And those who speculate instead of waiting until everything is ready.
  3. What motivated you to remain loyal to Gehri for 49 years?
    Exciting, interesting work; no serial work; work that requires active thinking.
  4. What kind of wood do you like to work with and why?
    I prefer solid wood, no matter what kind.
  5. What was the best moment in your professional career?
    Many smaller and bigger highlights. What pleases me most is when the work turns out well and I can experience it fully assembled.
  6. What are you particularly proud of?
    I have probably not been sick for a entire week in the whole 49 years.
  7. What is the biggest mistake you have made in 49 years of work?
    During my apprenticeship I loaded a door and a frame onto a car and before I could secure the load I was interrupted by a “Lirisiech” (see question 1). I drove off without securing the load with the result that the door and frame were lying on the market place — much to the displeasure of my boss.
  8. Is there anything you would like to pass on to a young carpenter?
    Humility: don’t have the feeling that you already know and can do everything!
  9. If you could give Gehri something to remember, what would it be?
    I wish the Gehri company that it will continue to have a lot of work and run well. And that they find good employees.
  10. What will you miss most when you retire?
    I don’t think too much about my upcoming retirement. What I will miss is doing Sudoku before 7 in the morning.
  11. May we call you if there is an emergency and your expertise is needed?
    Of course!
  12. Will you continue to carpenter in your (un)retirement?
    Yes, with my grandchild at home.
  13. How will your colleagues remember you?
    The “old” fellows, Hansueli Zbinden and Beat Käser, certainly in a very good way!
  14. Your retirement is coming up; what are you looking forward to the most?
    That I can sleep longer and don’t have to get up at 5am. That I can live without time pressure and freely decide and do whatever I feel like doing.
  15. Between you and me: Why do you always come to the carpentry about 45 minutes before work starts?
    To have a coffee in peace, solve Sudoku and talk to my “old” buddies.