Gipp, James Alvin 1946 - 2019

GIPP, WOLDUM, SPENCER-DIETZ, WEIGERT, COOK

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 7/24/2019 at 15:36:08

U.S. Veteran
James A. Gipp, age 73, of Decorah, IA, passed away Friday, July 12, 2019 at his home in Decorah.

Memorial Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, July 17, 2019 at Decorah Lutheran Church with Rev. Allen Vik officiating. Inurnment will be in Lutheran Cemetery in Decorah with Military Honors.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 16 at Fjelstul Funeral Home in Decorah and on Wednesday beginning at 10:00 a.m., one hour before the service, at Decorah Lutheran Church.

James Alvin Gipp was born on June 13, 1946 in Decorah, Iowa, the third of five sons to Alvin Herman Wilhelm and Jeanette (Woldum) Gipp. He was baptized July 14, 1946 with Dorothy and Telford Woldum and Edith and Elmer Gipp acting as sponsors. Jim attended Frankville #6. Three of the Gipp brothers were included in the class picture for the school year 1958-1959. After graduating from 8th grade, he went to Decorah High School. Jim, like his older brothers, wrestled during his high school years. He graduated May 26, 1964.

Jim was drafted into the U.S. Army on January 26, 1966. He was sent to Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for his basic training and then to Fort Rucker, Georgia for his advanced infantry training as a military policeman. In September 1966 Jim went to Viet Nam as a member of the 552 Military Police Unit. During his first 6 months there he was a military policeman and later he worked as a carpenter building barracks. After a year, he returned to Fort Leavenworth. He was discharged early because of his service in Viet Nam.

After Viet Nam, Jim attended school for artificial insemination. He farmed many years with his brothers, John and Chuck. In October 1980 they formed A-G Swiss Farms Inc. At this time, they showed Brown Swiss in Madison and at the Iowa State Fair. They won many awards including Grand Champion and were recognized as the Premier Brown Swiss Dairy Herd in the United States. After the corporation was dissolved in 2003, Jim drove semis for Cherry Creek Enterprises, hauling grains and scrap metal.

Jim was a bachelor for many years until he met Pamela Spencer-Dietz at the VFW Post in Decorah where he was a member, and she worked. They were married in Kauai, Hawaii on November 16, 1991. Pam had 3 daughters: Mary, Cindy, and Sarah Dietz. Jim became the “proud grandpa” to her 8 grandchildren.

Jim was very involved in the VFW, going to parades and funerals as a Color Guard. He also liked to bowl, was in a bowling league, and had a great time going to the tournaments. He enjoyed going to the Iowa State Fair where he loved visiting the cattle barns, and going to the country music concerts. A great delight for Jim was going to his Vietnam 552nd reunions for the past several years. He liked to collect John Deere toy tractors. He also built a walnut bedroom set for his brother Jerry and wife Elaine for their wedding in. 1965.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Alvin and Jeanette Gipp; and sister-in-law, Cyndi Gipp.

Jim is survived by his wife Pam; three step-children and eight grandchildren: Mary (Gene) Weigert, Samantha and Fletcher, Cindy (Gregg) Dietz, Zachary, Sean and Kyle; Sarah (Jeremy) Cook, Madison, Ezekiel, Brody and Autumn; and four brothers: John (Karen) Gipp, Gerald (Elaine) Gipp, and Charles (Ranae) Gipp, all of Decorah and Dean Gipp of Bettendorf, IA.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Helof Holm VFW Post No. 1977 All Vets Club, 104 State Street, Decorah, IA 52101.

SOurce: Fjelstul Funeral Home database

Lutheran Decorah Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Bruce Kuennen.
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