Max Elias Crabtree

Max Elias Crabtree, age 95 of Fredericksburg, IA passed away on Friday, June 5, 2015 at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton, IA. Max was born to Arley and Ora Mae (Kennedy) Crabtree at their home in Fredericksburg on December 10, 1919. He grew up on a farm in rural Fredericksburg and attended rural schools through the eighth grade. On January 10, 1943, Max was united in marriage to Lila Myrtle Thompson at the Little Brown Church near Nashua. To this union, five children were born. Max and Myrtle rented farms before buying their own in 1950, southwest of Fredericksburg, where they lived for years. Max also worked at the Fredericksburg Farmers Coop, and worked for Titus Manufacturing in Waterloo for 14 years. Max was very active in Farm Bureau, President of the Fredericksburg Sportsman’s Club, country schoolboard director, and a member of Chickasaw Trail Riders. He participated in the Chuckwagon Races of Iowa and Minnesota for 32 years where he was an outrider, judge and official starter. Max broke many horses for other people. He enjoyed going camping and loved spending time with family. He was also in many parades as far away as Chicago, Milwaukee and Baraboo where he was a security rider for the Ringling Bros. Circus parade. The parade Max enjoyed the most was Dairy Days in his hometown of Fredericksburg, where he celebrated with family and friends every year. Max was an active member of United Methodist Church in Fredericksburg. He is survived by his children Sharon Crabtree, of Center Point, IA, Karolyn Sill, of Scottsdale, AZ, Susan (Ken) Steege, of Fredericksburg, IA, David (Stacy) Crabtree of Mt. Vernon, IA, Lisa (Rod) Reicks, of New Hampton, IA; 23 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren with three more on the way, and many more loving family and friends. Max was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a brother; Lila Myrtle, his wife of 68 years; and great-granddaughter Brandy Bentley.