Unknown Speaker  0:00  
Recording that whole time. So this is a recording to discuss and tell you about the history of Gerald Crabbe. He was a State Farm agent in Wilmette. And it is November 25, 2022. And five of his six children are and multiple spouses and grandchildren are around with us today. And these are our stories about my Dad's experience in Wilmette.

Lisa Erdmier  0:32  
Hi, my name is Lisa Erdmier. I was the third child of Gerald D. Crabbe and Elsie Crabbe, who were residents of Wilmette for gosh, 60 plus years, lots of stories you'll be hearing from the whole family. I will start buying and if there's mistakes just go with the flow because I'm not going to repeat this all right, Gerald D. Crabbe from Duggar, Indiana on May 1 1959. And my sister's laughing at me right now okay. Packed up his beautiful wife and four young rambunctious children to open the State Farm Insurance office in Wilmette, Illinois, and to grow his roots in the town. Half a dozen years later, two more babies were added to the brood. The city of Wilmette's landscape back in the 1960s still had a few working farms and was on the cusp of its boom years for growth. Lake Michigan shoreline lended Wilmette its beauty and bone chilling winds. Gerald D. Crabbe was an iconic resident in Wilmette. He gave his help, and time and care to the village of Wilmette and St. Joseph's church. He was a member of the Wilmette Chamber of Commerce, Wilmette Optimist Club, Wilmette Rotary Club, a pioneer for the Wilmette Christmas parade, a member of St. Joseph men's club and I'm sure a few more more organizations that I can't remember. He grew his insurance, business and family with the unequivocal love and pride. I know that he appreciated that he was lucky enough to have his life entwined with Wilmette and all its citizens, past and present.

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