Our boys all attended the Canton School until we left the farm. Davis graduated from Madison, SD High School in 1958 and then from Winona State in 1962. He is an elementary teacher at Albert Lea, MN. Wayne graduated from Austin High School in 1961 and St. Olaf College in 1965. He is a Computer Analyst in Minneapolis. Leslie graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1968 after graduating from Austin High School in 1964. He is a Metallurgical Engineer for a company in Warsaw, IN.

Living on the farm was hard work. In 1947 we got electricity which made many chores easier. Washing clothes by hand was one of the hardest chores I had. After a few years we could afford to buy a gas-powered Maytag washer, one of my greatest purchases. About 1952 we had a fire on the farm that burned a corn crib and machine shed. Elmer’s greatest purchase probably was his first tractor. He had farmed with horses many years but he always said, “I do a lot more work taking care of them than they do for me.”

Ginapp, Edwin and Agnes (Moen)

(IvaNell Lang)

Edwin and Agnes, ca 1980

Charles Ginapp, born 28 Oct 1866 in Pommeron, Germany, came to the United States in 1884 at age 18. He married Wilhelmina (Minnie) Utpadel, born 17 Jul 1865 at Spanteckow, Germany. She came to the United States in 1886 at age 21. Minnie’s parents were Fred and Augusta Utpadel. She had one sister Bertha (Utpadel) Westphal and one brother William Utpadel.

Charles and Minnie Ginapp had 4 children: William (m. Amanda Rubenow); Amanda (m. Bill Enzenauer); Henry (m. Stella Throndson); and Edwin (m. Agnes Moen). Charles Ginapp died 22 Jun 1939 while visiting his daughter Amanda (Ginapp) Enzenauer in Ellendale, MN. Wilhelmina (Minnie) Ginapp died 4 Nov 1948 at Ossian, IA. The day Minnie died was the same day Iva Nell (Ginapp) Lang’s daughter Charlene was born. Minnie died a few short hours after learning she had a great-granddaughter.

Edwin Fredrick Ginapp was born 19 Jun 1900 in

Ossian, IA, Frankville Twp. He married Agnes Moen. 22 Dec 1920 in Castalia, IA. They had 2 daughters: IvaNell See Forrest and IvaNell Lang history) and Judith. Judith married Terry Fields 28 May 1960 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Decorah, IA. Judith and Terry live in Eden Prairie, MN. Terry is a science teacher at a Hopkins, MN school. He was born at Crosby, MN. Judith was a registered nurse for several years and now works part-time for a medical clinic in the Minneapolis, MN area. Judith and Terry have 3 sons: Bruce, Brent and David who live and work in the suburbs of Minneapolis. Bruce was born in Postville, IA. Bruce has one daughter, Jessica, born  at Milwaukee, Wl. Brent in Cleveland, OH) married Jennifer Daum 14 Sep 1985 at Eden Prairie. Brent and Jennifer have 2 sons: Thomas and Joseph. David (born in Eden Prairie) served in the U.S. Navy during the Persian Gulf conflict of 1991.

Edwin and Agnes farmed in Winneshiek Co. most of their working years. Retirement came in 1957 when they moved into Decorah and later sold their farm. Edwin spent his retirement years doing carpentry along with gardening, fishing and traveling the states with Agnes. Both Edwin and Agnes were involved with the Senior Citizens Center in Decorah and were among the original founding members. They were active members at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Edwin passed away 22 Feb 1987 at age 86 after a short illness with cancer. Agnes lives in Decorah and still maintains her membership role at the Senior Citizens Center where she is active in her pinochle card ganes and bingo on a weekly basis. At 95 years she is going strong.

Gipp, Elmer and Edith (Sersland)

(Edith (Sersland) Gipp and Lois (Gipp) Estrem)

Elmer John Gipp was born 22 Sep 1905 on the family farm in Frankville Twp., Winneshiek Co. He was the son of Herman August Fredrick Gipp and Johannah Marie Caroline Gipp. Herman was born 26 Mar 1872 in Germany. Johannah was born 14 Jan 1875, also in Germany. Herman and Johannah were married 26 Jun 1902. Six children were born to the union: Ida Gipp Watne (deceased); Carl, Parachute, CO; Elmer of this story; Edna Gipp Mundt (deceased); Alvin, Decorah; and Hazel Gipp Foeller (deceased).

Elmer Gipp married Edith Charlotte Sersland 23 Aug 1939 at Washington Prairie Lutheran Church. Edith was the daughter of Theodore and Helga (Anderson) Sersland. Theodore was born on a farm near Freeport in Glenwood Twp. Helga was born on a farm near Ossian. They met when Theodore was hauling cream for farmers in the area. Theodore and Helga were married 4 Oct 1906 at Washington Prairie Church. They became the parents of 3 sons and 3 daughters: Harold, Thelmer and Edgar all deceased and Rebecca Sersland Daniels, Edith Sersland Gipp and Norma Sersland Hegg.

Elmer and Edith met when Elmer hired out to Edith’s father in 1937 as a farm hand. They both knew from the