Jacob Gienger

Jacob Gienger went to his heavenly home on June 28, 2005 at St. Vincent's Care Center. Services will be held at 2:00 Tuesday, at Bismarck Baptist Church, Bismarck, with the Rev. Don Burnett officiating. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 2:00 to 3:00 PM Sunday at St. Vincent's Care Center, 3:30 - 9:00 PM Sunday, 9 AM to noon Tuesday at Eastgate Funeral Service and one hour prior to the service at the church. Jake was born on August 27, 1912, at Lincoln Valley, ND, to Gustav and Katharina Dockter Gienger. There he was raised and educated in a country school. On November 24, 1938, he married Irene Opp at the Lincoln Valley Baptist Church. They began their married life on a farm in the Anamoose, ND, area. In 1943 they moved to Goodrich, ND, where they continued farming until 1951. At that time, Jake went to work at the Goodrich Grain Elevator where he worked full-time for 26 years and 6 years part-time. He loved what he did as he was a real people person and had the opportunity on a daily basis to visit with the farmers that would come in to weigh their grain. In 1955, Jake and Irene purchased a grocery and clothing store in Goodrich called "Gienger's Fairway". Jake continued to work at the grain elevator while Irene ran the store. Because Jake enjoyed people so much, he would help in the store as much as he could because now he had a new group of people to visit with. Jake was also very active in the Goodrich Baptist Church playing a role in any capacity that he could. In 1983 Jake retired, sold the business and moved to Bismarck. However, it did not take Jake long to make many new friends in Bismarck and re-acquaint himself with old Goodrich friends. He began fishing with many fishing buddies and loved every minute of it. He enjoyed telling his family many "fish stories". In 1999 Jake's wife Irene passed on to her heavenly home and left a large void in his life. He tried to get involved in new activities and would travel to see his children as often as he could. He was so very proud of his family and would talk about his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all the time. We, as a family, felt everyone knew us because of him. In April 2004, Jake moved into St. Vincent's Care Center as a result of a back injury which no longer allowed him to live alone. Although he missed the freedom of living on his own, he grew to love everyone at the care center and got very involved in what was going on around him. He loved to play Skip-Bo and it was a real challenge to win a game from him. We all knew that he had the Skip-Bo angels on his shoulders! Grateful to have shared his life are four daughters and sons-in-law, Arlene and Ron Volk, Bismarck, Jan and Linn Danielski, San Antonio, TX, Linda and Arlan Danielski, Byron, MN, and Gladys and Jerry Hayward, Brule, NE; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Jan Gienger, Bottineau, ND, and Milo and Lynn Gienger, Plano, TX; four sisters, Tillie Heinle, Minot, ND, Carrie Heinle, Jamestown, ND, Kathryn Helm, Beulah, ND, and Dena Kummer, Great Falls, MT; one brother-in-law, Wilbert and Josie Opp, Lodi, CA; one sister-in-law, Meta Maynard, Bismarck, ND; twelve grandchildren, Tracy, Todd, Larry, Jr., and Tab Thompson, Stacey Andrade, Pam Tremont, Tiffany Rude, Tara Danielski, Lauren Gienger, Aaron, Adam and Ashley Hayward; 16 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews and friends. Jake was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Irene; two infant sisters; three brothers, Gust, Adam, and Johnathan; three sisters-in-law; and six brothers-in-law. The family prefers memorials to Bismarck Baptist Building Fund.

Jacob Gienger

August 27, 1912 - June 28, 2005