IvaNell Lang

Friday, March 11, 2022 4:14 am

IvaNell Lang, age 100, of Decorah passed away on March 8, 2022, at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at the Decorah Lutheran Church with Pastor Peter Kowitz officiating.  A private family burial will be at Lutheran Cemetery later in the spring. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at the Schluter-Balik Funeral Home, 604 South Ave in Decorah, and also after 10 a.m. at the church on Wednesday morning.

IvaNell Darlene (Ginapp) Lang was born October 20, 1921 in Castalia, Iowa to Edwin and Agnes (Moen) Ginapp. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Castalia by Rev. Harms.  The family moved to the Ginapp farm N.E. of Ossian in 1925. She was confirmed in 1935 at Washington Prairie Church by Rev. Paul Koren. IvaNell attended Centennial Country School and graduated from Ossian Public School in 1939 and then went to Decorah High School to take chemistry and biology in 1940. IvaNell worked in Hunts Variety Store and as a receptionist for Dr. Dahlquist in Decorah.

Forrest and IvaNell were married at Washington Prairie on June 15, 1942. In October, Forrest left for the Navy and IvaNell went to Chicago and worked at Teletype Corp. After Forrest was discharged from the service in WWII, they moved to Waterloo, while Forrest finished refrigeration school for one year. Then they moved to Decorah in 1948 where they began their business of Lang’s Refrigeration. Later to become Lang’s Dairy Equipment where she was a bookkeeper of the business until her retirement in 1978.

In retirement, she enjoyed camping with her husband in their travel trailer and fishing the Mississippi River at Lansing where they had their trailer at the Red Barn Resort.  In the winter months they traveled to Florida with the trailer and then in later years to Arizona. IvaNell was active in church circles, taught Sunday School, quilted for Do-Day and was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She enjoyed monthly card playing clubs and home making, especially baking cookies for her grandchildren.

IvaNell is survived by her daughter: Charlene (Richard) Theis, Chippewa Falls, Wis.; son: Scott Lang, Decorah; daughter-in-law: Susie Bakken Lang, Decorah; sister: Judy (Terry) Fields, Deerwood, Minn.; grandchildren: Kim (George) Wilson, James (fiancé, Julie Madsen) Lang, Darlene “Dede” (Alvin Jr.) Hackman, Justin (Cathy Mate) Theis, Chad (Kristen) Theis, Jason (Jeanne) Theis, Mark (Kati) Theis, Bryan (Amber) Theis; great grandchildren: Dustin Bongiovanni, Dakota Wilson, Blake Hackman, Aleah Hackman, Elijah Theis, Joshua Theis, Rachel Theis, Kyle Theis, Kayla IvaNell Theis, Henry Forrest Theis, Madeline Theis, Graham Theis, Bria Theis and Violet Theis.

She was preceded in death by her husband Forrest in 1986; her father: Edwin Ginapp in 1987; mother: Agnes (Moen) Ginapp in 2004; son: Kelly Lang in 2012; and a two-year-old great grandson; Isaiah Theis in 2013.