Rathbun Insurance History
Rathbun Insurance was founded by two Rathbun brothers, Jack and Jim, in 1956. The agency began with no customers and one company contract, but steadily grew through referrals as a result of their exceptional customer service. John Keel joined the agency in 1965 and retired as President after 53 years in 2018. John was instrumental in the growth of Rathbun Insurance and we will always remember him as an innovative and brilliant salesman who assisted in laying the groundwork that the agency still operates on today.
Jack and Jim's brother, Gene, joined the agency to perform inside underwriting work in 1966. Subsequently, Jim left the firm to become CEO & President of The Insurance Company of the West. Jack retired in 1989 and Gene in 1996. Both Jack and Gene solidified the importance of the agent-customer relationship. We still oftentimes reminisce on stories from long-term clients of when Jack or Gene came and sat at their kitchen table. To truly get to know our clients not only as a policyholder, but as a human being. We continue to cherish providing that service to our current insureds.
In 1968, Rathbun Insurance moved the business to its present location at the corner of Pine and Saginaw in Lansing. In 1983, Gene's son, Paul, joined the agency as a personal and commercial lines producer. He became a partner in 1990 and was the President at the time of his passing in 2021. Paul was instrumental in preserving the second-generation legacy of Rathbun Insurance.
Larry Pingel joined the agency in 1996 as a personal lines producer and joined the ownership team in 2008. He retired in 2019. David Finkbeiner joined Rathbun Insurance in 2012 as a personal and commercial lines producer after a career in the food service industry owning a high-end dining restaurant. He retired in 2025.
The third generation of the agency officially began in 2014 when Gene’s grandson, Ben, joined as a personal and commercial lines producer. He became a partner in 2019 and assumed the role of CEO in 2021. In 2023, Laura Stoken joined Rathbun Insurance, bringing strategic business management expertise to the organization. In 2025, she officially became part owner—the first female owner in agency history—marking a new era of leadership and the continued commitment to remain locally owned, relationship-centered, and independent.
Together, Ben and Laura form a powerhouse team—strengthening business operations, driving innovation in insurance strategy, and positioning Rathbun Insurance to “Be There When It Matters Most” well into the future.
