The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Robert "Bob" Cratsenberg was named Grand Marshal of the Christmas parade in LaHarpe last Saturday.
There is no one more deserving of this honor than Bob. He has been a LaHarpe merchant for almost all his adult life.
Bob was born in September of 1922, south of LaHarpe. His parent were Harvey and Kate Cratsenberg. They were the parents of 3 boys and 2 girls.
Bob was raised in the LaHarpe area and graduated from LaHarpe High School.
While he was a junior in high school he started working in the local Kroger grocery store. He stocked shelves, candeled eggs, and sacked potatoes.
In August of 1942, a month before his 19th birthday, he was named manager of the store, becoming LaHarpe's youngest merchant.
He was manager for a year, then he became manager of Towlers grocery store on the southeast corner of main street.
When his brother, Roland, returned home from the service, Bob opened the Brown Lynch Scott store next to the grocery store.
Roland then managed the grocery store. Bob ran the Brown Lynch Scott store for 20 years.
He then farmed for many years before he opened the Bargain Barn on main street.
After many years there he sold the business to Clifford Rich and bought antiques for dealers.
But after seeing a need for a used furniture store he opened "Nothin New" in 1995 and has been there ever since.
Now he has the honor of being the oldest merchant in LaHarpe and the one who has been a merchant the longest.
Bob said La Harpe doesn't owe him a thing, but he owes LaHarpe a lot.
La Harpe has been good to him, because his customers could go anywhere they want to buy, but they chose to buy from him.
He is still in business because he loves to go to auctions.
Bob and Jean were married October 12, 1947.
They have 3 daughters, Jan, Kathy, and Becky, and 4 grandchildren.
His most enjoyable thing to do is teach his Sunday School class at the Union Church where he attends, and teach an independant Bible Class on bible prophesy on Thursday nights.
He concurs He couldn't do what he does without the Lord's help.
Bob Cratsenberg and his wife Jean of fifty-six years after Bob was named Grand Marshal of this year's Christmas parade.