The teller also survived and lived into his 90s. According to Mary Ellen Conaway, director of the Racine County Historical Museum, Patzke gave her account of her hostage experience often, but because of her advanced years, she now becomes frustrated when she forgets the details. When Patzke made the decision to stop talking to reporters and history buffs, she presented her personal Dillinger scrapbook to the museum. The book sits in a drawer among the archives housed in the building's basement. And it is currently the only mention of Dillinger's appearance in the building.
People here see it both ways.
Either they think it's a horrible thing or just part of history. Conaway is careful not to glorify Dillinger, but notes that Racine was not immune to the idea of Dillinger as a Depression-era Robin Hood. From what I heard, he was a big tipper, but that's not the same as giving to the poor. The important thing to remember is that this was not a tragedy in their eyes. Nobody was killed.