Obituary of Donald McCrabb
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West Liberty, Iowa
Jim McCrabb, 73, died Thursday June 30, 2011 at Mercy Hospice in Iowa City following complications of ongoing health issues.
Funeral services will be held 11 A.M. Wednesday July 6, 2011 at the First Church United in West Liberty. Visitation will be held Tuesday from 4 to 8 P.M. at the First Church United. Burial will be in the North Prairie Cemetery, West Liberty.
Jim was born January 13, 1938 in West Chester, Iowa the son of Donald and Kate Graf McCrabb. He attended country school in Keota and graduated from Keota High School. He had served in the Iowa National Guard.
In 1957 he was united in marriage to Verena Wyse, they later divorced and he then married Jan Pityer on April 1, 1979 in Mercedes, Texas.
He had started a business in a small garage in Keota, before moving to West Liberty in 1964 and opened McCrabb Mfg in 1966. He was a phenomenal entrepreneur and businessman and was the holder of many patents. He was an instrument rated pilot of many different makes and models of airplanes. He loved Barber Shop music and taking his wife Jan fishing in Canada. He was a member of the Rotary Club, Lions Club, former member of the West Liberty City Council and West Liberty Fire Dept. He also designed the “Key to West Liberty” which for many years was displayed in entrance signs coming into West Liberty. He was a member of the First Church United and served on the board.
Survivors include his wife Jan of West Liberty. Children: Debbie (Jerry) Bayers of Selma, Sandy Rummells of West Liberty, Dave (Ginger) McCrabb of Topeka, Kansas, Carol (Dan) Menke of West Point, Renee Pityer of West Liberty and Todd (Janelle) Pityer of Algona. Grandchildren: Chris Bayers, Amber (Brian) Collett, Kelly Bayers, Mary Sue McKillip, Cassie (Aaron) Holladay, Jarod Rummells, Alisha (Brannon) Aldrich, Lezlie Aldrich, Derek Menke, Aaron Menke, Ashlee Menke, Courtney Pityer, Carissa Pityer, Christopher Pityer and Ten great grandchildren. Two brothers: Richard (Sharon) McCrabb of Manchester and Bill (Gail) McCrabb of Washington, Illinois and one sister Jean (Stan) Hale of West Liberty. He is also survived by his mother-in-law: Velma Hofmaster of Cedar Rapids. He was preceded in death by his parents, and an infant brother Raymond George McCrabb.