Gisella Nipkow died peacefully at Rosewood Village in Trail on December 9th, 2014. She was born in the old homestead on Nipkow Mountain in Fruitvale on October 11th 1920 with Ida Mason in attendance as midwife.
Gisella was the third child of Wilhelm and Natalie Nipkow. Her father, Wilhelm, had come to Fruitvale from Germany in 1910, purchased property and eventually established the greenhouse which flourishes still today. Gisella spent her life dedicated to her family and greenhouse business. She became well known in the area as “the tomato plant lady” for the superior plants people know they’d find at Nipkow’s.
Upon sale of the Greenhouse in 1958 she moved with her family to Martin Street in Fruitvale from where she avidly followed her yen to travel. She was predeceased by her parents, Wilhelm and Natalie, a sister Adele (Richard), a brother Reinheld (Eleanor) and Auntie Marie who lived to 102 years under Gisella’s gentle care.
Caring for others with kindness was simply a way of life for Gisella. Growing up on the farm during the depression and war years helped form a caring, thankful person who abhorred waste and cared deeply for her environment. Ever kind, she was candid and most honest in expressing her opinions. Her great love of classical music began ‘on the mountain’ listening to the one record the Nipkows owned, played
on the Victrola: The recording was the famous duet sung as an aria in Bizet’s opera, “The Pearl Fishers”.
Gisella requested there be no service. Cremation has taken place.
In 1946 Gisella wrote a poem in an autograph book for her little 12 year old friend, as follows:
“When the golden sun is setting
And your mind from care is free,
When of distant friends you’re thinking
Won’t you sometimes think of me?”
Yes, Gisella, many cherished friends and cousins you’ve left behind will fondly remember THE remarkable lady from Nipkow Mountain.
We hope you enjoy the music.