BUCHANAN (AP) - Jackie Readel stood behind a sink - scrubbing dishes at a school where she's worked since before any of the students were born.

Readel kept to herself, washing pots, pans and cookie trays just like she has each school day for two decades.

But Wednesday wasn't like other days.

The meal of corn dogs, sliced apples and homemade cupcakes was Readel's last as head cook for Buchanan Elementary School.

Readel has baked cookies, tossed salads and drained macaroni noodles at the Buchanan school for 20 years, just long enough for each of her eight grandchildren to attend school and graduate.

Her youngest, Nicholas Blaskowski, graduates this year. He will attend seventh grade at Pingree-Buchanan High School in the fall.

"She wanted to see her grandkids through," said Terrie Neys, the Buchanan principal.

With a hair net covering her curls and a pastel apron protecting her blouse, Readel wasn't expecting the 10 extra meals she prepared to be for guests she'd served before. Neys told her to prepare extra for a school improvement visitation team - a fib so Readel would be surprised on her last day.

"I've never seen her so speechless," one family member said of Readel's reaction to seeing six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren in the school's lunch line.

"I'm just overwhelmed," she said.

Although Readel isn't related to all the 65 students at Pingree-Buchanan, all are considered her children, said Camie Readel, kindergarten teacher and Readel's daughter-in-law.

"She calls these kids her kids," Camie said, "all of them."

Many of Readel's dishes are homemade, Neys said, and students agreed she has personalized lunches to make sure even picky eaters have something to munch on.

Sixth-grader Samantha Fell said her favorite entree of Readel's is macaroni and cheese.

"It's so cheesy and gooey," she said.

Besides tasty meals, Readel serves up smiles, jokes and hugs to her students as well, sixth-graders Carrie Thu and Lindsey Saxberg said.

"You can tell her anything," said sixth-grader Morgan Thomas. "You can trust her."

Readel said she has shed a few tears thinking about the students she's served at Pingree-Buchanan.

"It's been just an honor to serve these kids their lunch every day," she said.

With her extra time, Readel said she'll keep busy quilting, baby-sitting and the three C's - cooking, cleaning and going to church.

Sixth-graders at Pingree-Buchanan say Readel will be missed.

"She's kind of like all of our grandma," said sixth-grader Samantha Schmoker.