Clark Ginapp
Clark Edward Ginapp, age 69, died Nov. 9, 2020, in Holyoke. After a battle with lung cancer in 1996, he survived for nearly 25 years with one lung. Unbeknownst to him and his family, the cancer had returned, and he died more suddenly than expected of complications of cancer and pneumonia at Melissa Memorial Hospital in Holyoke.
Clark was born Aug. 6, 1951, in Charles City, Iowa, to parents Jane and Lyle Ginapp, growing up in Mason City, Iowa. He graduated from Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, and began his teaching career on the Winnebago Reservation in Winnebago, Nebraska. In 1978, he moved to Holyoke and accepted a position as a teacher at Holyoke High School, where he taught English and literature and directed the high school plays.
Clark was an award-winning teacher who was selected to prestigious Writers’ Workshops at the University of Iowa and Denver University. A deeply intellectual teacher, Clark loved challenging himself, his students and his friends to continually develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of the English language and philosophy.
During his more than 30 years of service as a teacher in the Holyoke School District, Clark directed 60 high school productions — with his final production being Damn Yankees, one of his personal favorites. Clark was also a founding member of Phillips County Players, directing and “acting” in such classics as Cheaper by the Dozen, Duck Soup, A Christmas Carol and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Puns, plays, possums and philosophy peppered his Facebook posts, demonstrating his passion for engaging those around him in playful discourse.
An avid sports fan, Clark was a loyal fan of the Yankees and Colorado Golden Buffaloes. As a long-time football season ticket holder, he never missed an opportunity to cheer on the Buffs against the Huskers. However, one of his greatest experiences was attending a game in New York, sitting just a few rows above the Yankees dugout.
Locally, Clark was a caretaker of the Holyoke baseball field, youth baseball coach and slow-pitch softball umpire at the state and sub-state levels for many summers during the ’80s. Combining his love of sports and dedication to the students at HHS, Clark also scouted area high school football teams for the Dragons for many years.
His family, friends and former students will always remember Clark as a talented storyteller, valued adviser, thoughtful mentor and inspirational educator.
Clark is survived by his son, Micah of Holyoke; son, Asa of Las Vegas, Nevada; granddaughter, Emery of Las Vegas; and three older siblings, Sharon, Joel and Fred.
He was preceded in death by his father, Lyle; mother, Genevieve “Jane”; and brother, Gary.
A celebration of life is being tentatively scheduled for May 2021, coinciding with the end of the school year.