Gerald C. Crowell

Windom Army National Guard
  • Military specialty: Unknown
  • Awards: Unknown

b. 02 Apr 1936. Gerald Curtis (“Babe”) Crowell was born to Herald T. and Edna Crowell in Delafield Twp. Jackson Co., MN.

Babe started farming at age 15, leaving school in 1952 to do so. On 17 July 1957, his farm was hailed out, and Babe began driving a school bus for the nearby Wilder school. When the Wilder school ceased to exist, he became employed as a substitute custodian f0r the Windom school district, working up the ranks to become the maintenance man and eventually superintendent of buildings and grounds for the entire Windom district for 35 years. In 1975, he bought out his father and built a dwelling on the family farm where he lived with his family. In 2014, his home became a century farm.

Besides farming and working for the Windom school district, Babe pursued further education by earning a degree in business administration at the Worthington Community College in Worthington, MN. After his graduation, he taught steam engineering at the Jackson Vo-Tech in Jackson, MN for 25 years and also was an asbestos contractor –hygienist work.

Babe was a member of the National Guard for 30 years, a member of the Windom American Legion for thirty-five years, and a post commander for twelve years until 2015. He advanced to a senior non-commissioned officer (NCO) and trained to be a career counselor for the National Guard.

Babe retired from the school at age 55 (abt. 1991) and from the National Guard at age 60 (abt. 1996). In retirement, he pursued an interest in art, traveling to Italy six times to paint. He also has an interest in wind farming and generates the power to his home.

In 1955, he married Sylvia “Toby” Nolt; they had 5 children. They divorced in 1979. In 1991, he married Kathy.

  • Obituary: No