Gapinski, Fred

Dora M. EATON (1905-1970) and Fred A. GAPINSKI (1903-1988)

Fred Albert GAPINSKI was born about 1903 in Hampshire, Kane, IL, and died 30 May 1988 in Chicago, age 84. His parents were John GAPINSKI and Louisa HAUSLEIN. 

Fred married (1) Dora M. EATON on 21 Oct 1925 in Kane County, IL. Fred and Dora had 7 children, in Chicago. The first child, Fred Jr, died in infancy. 

Dora M. EATON was born on 5 Feb 1905 in Plato, Kane, IL, the daughter of George EATON and Maggie STURGES, and died in Jul 1970 in Cook County, IL, age 65. 

Fred and Dora divorced, probably shortly after 1940, and the children went into foster care. Fred married (2) Catherine HISLOP on 9 Jan 1954 in Cook County, IL. I don't know of any children from this union.

The name GAPINSKI is sometimes spelled GAPINSKE or GAPINSKY. Some of Fred's siblings changed to the GAPINSKE spelling. However, his father spelled his name GAPINSKI.

Fred Albert GAPINSKI birth records

The records are ambiguous as to the birth date and place of Fred Albert GAPINSKI. The table below gives a summary. My best guess is that he was born about 1903, in Hampshire Township, Kane County, IL.

Fred Albert GAPINSKI appeared as Albert in the 1910 and 1920 US Censuses, with his parents, in Plato, Kane, IL. See the John GAPINSKI page. As an adult he was called Fred or Fred A. There is no record that directly equates Albert GAPINSKI, son of John and Louisa, and Fred A GAPINSKI, husband of Dora and father of the children named below. The best evidence is that the birth certificates of 2 of the children and the naturalization petition of John all agree that he was born about 1903 in Hampshire, Kane, IL.

Marriage of Fred and Dora

The marriage record for Fred and Dora was obtained by Joan HUNTER from the the Kane County Clerk's office. The date of 21 Oct 1925 would imply that Fred was 21 and Dora was 20. However, the 1930 US Census (below), says that Fred was 23 and Dora was 21 when they were married. Close enough?

Fred and Dora were both born in Kane County, IL, and married there, but by Oct 1927 they moved to Chicago, where all their children were born. Fred was a truck driver, at least in 1930 and 1940. The family endured the Great Depression in Chicago, with Fred often unemployed or absent. 

Dora M. EATON

The obituary of Dora M. EATON gives a lot of information that I haven't found elsewhere. It was published on 24 Jul 1970, so she died shortly before that. It makes no mention of Fred GAPINSKI, Dora's ex-husband, and father of her 7 children.

1930 US Census

The GAPINSKI family lived at 5547 Edmunds Street, in Chicago, in 1930. They lived in a rented house, which they shared with the Henry GROSSMAN family. I don't know if this was a duplex. The GAPINSKIs paid $28/month and the GROSSMANs paid $32/month. Fred was 23 when first married, and Dora was 21, so they were married about 1926. Fred was a truck driver. They had twin daughters, born about Dec 1928.

1940 US Census

The family in 1940 was living at 4652 West Raneswood Avenue, Chicago, where they paid $20/month rent. Fred had had 1 year of high school, and Dora had an 8th grade education. They had lived in the same place in 1935. Fred was a truck driver, unemployed for 34 weeks. 

There is no Raneswood Avenue in present-day Chicago. There is a Ravenswood Avenue, but it runs north and south. I looked on the census and the street listed before our street is West Leland Avenue. The census taker must have turned the corner from Leland onto our street. The last address on Leland is 1819 West Leland. Sure enough, it is right next to the intersection of Leland and Ravenswood! So I think 4652 W Raneswood Ave should be 4652 N Ravenswood Ave, which is right around the corner from the last address on Leland. There is no residential building at 4652 now, but several large buildings take up the block. North Ravenswood is two one-way streets with several railroad tracks running in between. This is on the north side, in the Ravenswood neighborhood.

 WWII Draft Card

The draft card above has some curious entries, but is surely the card for our Fred Albert GAPINSKI. It is dated 16 Feb 1942, which must have been after his divorce or separation from Dora.

His birth date is recorded as 1 Jan 1901, not 1903 or 1904.

His his birthplace as Maple Park. This village, previously called Lodi, is mostly in Virgil Township, Kane County, IL, and partly in Cortland Township, DeKalb County, IL. Maple Park is about 12 miles south of Hampshire Township, Kane County, IL.

His contact person is Mr Theodore GAPINSKI, in Princeton, IL, which can only be his son, who would have been almost 10 years old. Clearly, Fred did not want to list his ex-wife. But Fred had several siblings, living in northern IL. Why not one of them?

His employer is Polonia Coal Co, at 5492 Northwest Hy, which is probably 5492 N Northwest Hwy, in the Gladstone Park area, on the N side of Chicago. This is now on the NE side of the Kennedy Expressway.

His address, crossed out for some reason, is 5409 Higgins Rd, Chicago. The E end of Higgins Rd in Chicago now seems to be called W Higgins Ave. This address could refer to 5409 W Higgins Ave, near Jefferson Memorial Park, about 1.2 miles SE of 5492 N Northwest Hwy. But it could also refer to 5409 W Higgins Rd, which is about 5 miles W of 5492 N Northwest Hwy.

Note: 5409 W Higgins Ave is about a quarter mile from 5547 W Edmunds St, where the GAPINSKI family had lived in 1930. So I suspect that Fred moved back to his old neighborhood.

I have not found much information about the Polonia Coal Company. Of course, Polonia was the name of the Polish-American community in Chicago. Maybe Fred was a truck driver for Polonia?

Dora and the Kids

Divorce and Foster Homes

Family stories say that Fred and Dora divorced, and the children went into foster care. This must have been shortly after the census was taken on 15 Apr 1940. I have no idea why neither parent was able to take care of the children. Their son Ted's obituary says that he went to the Swedish Covenant Children's Home in Princeton, IL at age 8, so about 1940-1, and he later went to a foster home. However, the family photo above shows Francis, born Dec 1938, and she appears about 3 or 4. 

The 1950 US Census has Ted living with foster parents in Princeton, Violet in a children's home in Chicago, and Lucille and Frances in a children's home in Princeton. Marie was married and living in Wyanet, Bureau County, IL, and Myrtle was probably in PA with her family.

The Tiger, yearbook of Princeton High School, has photos of Myrtle, Marie, Ted, Lucy and Fran, but not Violet. I suspect that all 6 were initially sent to the Children's Home in Princeton, and later sent out to different foster homes. They all ended up in northern IL, and then one went to PA.

Dora after Fred

I have no idea what Dora was doing between 1940 and 1970. Her obituary (above) was published on 24 Jul 1970, so she died shortly before that date. Her grave is in Irving Park Cemetery, on the N side of Chicago. Her mother-in-law, Louisa (HAUSLEIN) GAPINSKI, is buried in the same cemetery.

Fred after Dora

Fred left a cryptic record in his WWII draft card (above), dated 16 Feb 1942. He probably stayed around the N side of Chicago, working as a truck driver. His children were in the Princeton, IL area, and I don't know if he had any contact with them.

Fred appears to have remarried in 1954. I'm not sure if this the right Fred GAPINSKI. The last half of his life is a mystery. I would noy even be sure he was the same Fred GAPINSKI who died on 30 May 1988, except that the SSDI record (above) also gives the birthdate of 31 Dec 1903, which agrees pretty well with other records.

Fred Albert GAPINSKI died on 30 May 1988 in Cook County, IL, age 84.

The next record has the same death date as above, but the birth date is 1 Jan 1904 instead of 31 Dec 1903. Must have been a New Year's baby! Also, it says Fred was born in Minnesota, which makes sense, although all the other records say Illinois. There were a lot of GAPINSKIs in central Minnesota in 1904 and earlier. 

Descendants

Fred Albert GAPINSKI b: 01 Jan 1904 in Hampshire, Kane, IL, d: 30 May 1988 in Chicago, Cook, IL, age 84

+ Dora M EATON b: 05 Feb 1905 in Plato, Kane, IL, m: 21 Oct 1925 in Kane, IL, d: Jul 1970 in Cook, IL, age 65

......1 Fred John GAPINSKI b: 22 Apr 1927 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 11 Jan 1928 in Chicago, Cook, IL, age 8 months

......2 Myrtle Louise GAPINSKI b: 11 Dec 1928 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: Dec 1985 in Blair, PA, age 56 or 57
...... + Joseph Anthony BALESTINO b: 20 Apr 1925 Gallitzin, Cambria, PA, m: 28 Apr 1949 Cook, IL, d: 22 Mar 1990 Altoona, Blair, PA, age 64

......3 Marie Rose GAPINSKI b: 11 Dec 1928 in Cook, IL, d: 21 Nov 1968. age 39
...... + Max R "Fred" HUBBARD, b:10 Aug 1929 in Wyanet, Bureau, IL, m: 4 Sep 1948 in Princeton, Bureau, IL, d:30 Oct 2018 in Rockford, IL, age 89 

......4 Theodore Melvin GAPINSKI b: 04 Mar 1932 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 14 Nov 2016 in IL, age 84
...... + Virginia Lee KIMMEL, b: 28 Apr 1934 in Morrison, Whiteside, IL,  m: 19 Jun 1955 in Morrison, Whiteside, IL

......5 Violet Mae GAPINSKI b: 12 May 1934 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 24 Jun 2008 in Carol Stream, DuPage, IL, age 74
...... + Rodney Arnold WEISSMILLER b: 20 Nov 1917 in Chicago, Cook, IL, d: 05 Jun 1985 in Tomahawk, Lincoln, WI, age 67
...... + James L MAYFIELD b: 14 Apr 1929, d: 18 Jun 2013, age 84

......6 Lucille E GAPINSKI b: 13 Jul 1936 in Chicago, Cook, IL
...... + Imants NIEDRA b: 31 May 1936 in Riga, Riga, Latvia, m: 27 Sep 1958 in Cook, IL, d: 17 May 2009 in Itasca, DuPage, IL, age 72

......7 Frances Angeline GAPINSKI b: 16 Dec 1938 in Chicago, Cook, IL
...... + Richard L ANSON b: 14 May 1934 in IL

+ Catherine HISLOP m: 09 Jan 1954 in Cook, IL

Fred and Dora had 7 children. The first child, Fred Jr, died in infancy. The remaining son and 5 daughters all married once, except Violet, who married twice. In the early 1940s they went into foster care, in the Princeton, IL area. The sections below follow them separately. 

From Dora's obituary, we know that Theodore GAPINSKI married Virginia, last name unknown. Violet married James MAYFIELD. Lucille married lmants NIEDRA. Francis married Richard ANSON.

1. Fred John GAPINSKI was born 22 Apr 1927 in Chicago, and died 11 Jan 1928 in Chicago, at age 8 months.

2. Myrtle Louise GAPINSKI was born 11 Dec 1928, in Chicago, Cook, IL, and died in Dec 1985, probably in Blair, PA, age 56. She married on 28 Apr 1949, in Cook County, IL to Joseph Anthony BALESTINO, born 20 Apr 1925 in Gallitzin, Cambria, PA, and died 22 Mar 1990 in Altoona, Blair, PA, age 64. Myrtle and Joseph share a gravestone in Calvary Cemetery, Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania. 

Joseph Anthony BALESTINO enlisted in the US Navy of 5 Apr 1943, just 15 days before his 18th birthday. His older brother, Nunzio G. BALESTINO, had already enlisted in the US Army on 22 Oct 1942. Both brothers listed their residence at time of entry into service as 2109 9th Ave, Altoona, PA, the same address as their parents, Joseph and Amelia BALESTINO. Joseph Sr was a repairman for an electric street railway. Joseph Jr left the service on 4 Mar 1946, with the rank of GM3/c. He finished high school after the war, graduating from Altoona HS in Jun 1947. When applying for compensation, filed 5 Mar 1950, Joseph Jr listed his beneficiary as Myrtle Louise BALESTINO, at 2946 W Congress St, Chicago. 

Altoona, "The Mountain City" or "Railroad City", lies in Blair County, southwestern PA. In the 2010 Census, Altoona had a population of  46,320 and Blair County 127,089. Gallitzin is a borough in Cambria County, PA, about 7 miles west of Altoona. Some records say Joseph was born in Altoona, others say Gallitzin. 

Joseph and Myrtle must have moved to Altoona soon after the compensation filing, as they are found in the 1951 directory. Several BALESTINOs lived at 2109 9th Ave, Altoona, including Joseph Sr and Amelia. (Apparently 9th Ave is also called Branch Ave.) Joseph and Myrtle lived at 2020 8th Ave, about 400 feet from 2109 9th Ave. Joseph was a laborer for the Pennsylvania Railroad.

The Altoona directories have Joseph living at 2109 Branch Ave in 1945 and 1947. In 1981 and 1993 he was at 311 1st St, Altoona. In 1994 he was at 5232 Grandview Ave, Altoona. I don't know if Joseph and Myrtle had any children.

3. Marie Rose GAPINSKI was Myrtle's twin, so she was also born 11 Dec 1928, in Chicago, Cook, IL, and died 21 Nov 1968. age 39. She married on 4 Sep 1948 in Princeton, Bureau, IL to Max Robert "Fred" HUBBARD, born 10 Aug 1929 in Wyanet, Bureau, IL and died 30 Oct 2018 in Rockford, IL, age 89. 

In 1950, Marie and Max lived on Main Street in Wyanet, with their first child. Max was working at a furniture store.

Max HUBBARD married (2) on 10 Sep 1969 in Mendota, IL, to Esther MELLOTT.

4. Theodore Melvin "Ted" GAPINSKI was born 4 Mar 1932 in Chicago, and died 14 Nov 2016 in Forreston, Ogle, IL, age 84. He married on 19 Jun 1955 in Morrison, IL to Virginia Lee KIMMEL, born 28 Apr 1934 in Morrison, Whiteside County, IL, daughter of Neal and Kathleen KIMMEL. Ted's obituary gives more information. The obituary doesn't say whether Virginia survived him, but it does say that they were married 61 years, so she was still living on 19 Jun 2016.

Ted's obituary tells us that, after his parents divorced, the children were put in foster care. Ted himself, and possibly his 5 sisters, went to the Swedish Covenant Children's Home (now the site of Nelson Chapel) in Princeton, Bureau County, IL. Ted was with his parents when the 1940 US Census was taken, 15 Apr 1940. Ted was 8 when he went to the Children's Home, so it was between 15 Apr 1940 and 4 Mar 1941. Later, the obituary tells us, Ted went into foster care in the home of John and Beth RUSSELL, in Princeton.

The 1940 US Census has John F. RUSSELL (38) and Beth RUSSELL (34), both born in IL, living in a rented home at 1511 S Main St, Princeton. John was a trucker, like Fred GAPINSKI. His WWII draft card says he was John William RUSSELL, born 14 Sep 1901, in Bureau County, IL. Ted lived with the RUSSELLs until he started college, in 1950. Their son, Jay RUSSELL, was called Ted's "foster brother" in the obituary.

The 1950 US Census has Ted with the RUSSELL family at 1511 S. Main St, Princeton, Bureau, IL.

Ted GAPINSKI timeline (children left out for privacy)

1932 Mar 4 - born in Chicago, IL.
1940 Apr 15 - The 1940 US Census (above) has Theodore, age 8, living with his parents and 5 sisters, in Chicago.
1940 - Went to the Swedish Covenant Children's Home in Princeton, IL, at age 8.
1940s - Lived with foster parents John and Beth RUSSELL in Princeton, Bureau, IL.
1950 - graduated from Princeton High School
1950-52 - Attended Western Illinois University, in Macomb, McDonough, IL, on a football scholarship.
1952-? Served in the US Army during the Korean War.
1955 Jun 19 - Married Violet KIMMELL in Morrison, Whiteside, IL
1956 - Bachelor of Education Degree at WIU in 1956.
1956 - Hired by Prophetstown School District, in Prophetstown, Whiteside, IL
1958 - Resided at 305 E 3rd St in Prophetstown.
1960 - Masters Degree and Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration, from Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, DeKalb, IL.
1961 - Promoted to Superintendent of Prophetstown Elementary School, Prophetstown, Whiteside, IL
1967 Apr - Became the Superintendent of the Forreston School District, in Forreston, Ogle, IL
1981 - Resided at 503 W White Oak Rd, Forreston.
1993 - Resided at 503 W White Oak Rd, Forreston.
1999 - Retired.
2016 Nov 14 - Died in Forreston, Ogle, IL

5. Violet Mae GAPINSKI was born 12 May 1934 in Chicago, and she died on 24 Jun 2008 in DuPage County, IL, age 74. She married (1) Rodney Arnold WEISSMILLER, born 20 Nov 1917 in Chicago, and died 5 Jun 1985 in Tomahawk, WI, age 67. She married (2) James L MAYFIELD, born 14 Apr 1929, and died 18 Jun 2013, age 84.

The Burke and Weissmiller Family Tree on Ancestry.com has Violet as the second wife of Rodney WEISSMILLER. Rodney had 2 daughters from his first marriage, and 1 son and 1 daughter from his marriage to Violet. The daughter was Brenda Ann (WEISSMILLER) MESTAUSKAS, born 8 Feb 1957, died 16 Jun 2015 in KY.

Rodney WEISSMILLER had first married on 4 Jan 1941 in Clinton, IA, to Ruth Martha CARLSON, born 4 Sep 1918 in Chicago, Cook, IL, and died 18 Sep 2009 in Arlington Heights, Cook, IL, age 91. Rodney and Ruth divorced about 1947, according to family members.

Rodney enlisted in the US Army on 15 Sep 1942, and was discharged in Feb 1945 for medical reasons.

In 1950, Violet was 15, an inmate at the Chicago Home for Girls, a private correctional home, at 1525 N. Western Ave, Chicago. Rodney WEISSMILLER, age 32, was a prisoner at the Illinois State Penitentiary in Stateville, Will County, IL. He was listed as married.

6. Lucille E. "Lucy" GAPINSKI was born on 13 Jul 1936, in Chicago. She married on 27 Sep 1958 in Chicago, to lmants NIEDRA, born 31 May 1936 in Riga, Latvia, and died 17 May 2009, in Itasca, DuPage County, IL. So they were both 22 when married. Lucy was still living, as of 14 Nov 2016, according to her brother Ted's obituary.

The 1950 US Census has Lucille GAPINSKI, age 13, and her sister Frances A. GAPINSKI, age 11, at the Covenant Children's Home on East Elm Place, in Princeton, Bureau County, IL. 

The Naturalization form for Imants NIEDRA has a lot of useful information. (The image is too large to include on this page, but if you would like to see it, just email me.) As shown in the summary above, Imants was a native of Riga, Latvia, and was born there on 31 May 1936. He immigrated on 23 Jan 1951, arriving in New Orleans. His residence in 1965 was 5000 West Fletcher Street, Chicago. He married Lucille GAPINSKE on 27 Sep 1958, in Chicago. She was born 13 Jul 1936, in Chicago. Imants had a fair complexion, blue eyes and blond hair. His height was 5 ft. 11 in. and weight 210 lbs. He arrived in 1951 on the USNS Gen. H. McRae. I have no idea how he was able to immigrate on a US Navy ship.

Lucy attended the School of Nursing of the Augustana Hospital in Chicago. Imants and Lucille lived at 630 Country Club Lane, Itasca, DuPage, IL after 1977.

7. Frances Angeline "Fran" GAPINSKI was born on 16 Dec 1938, in Chicago. She married Richard Lee ANSON, born 14 May 1934 in IL.

Frances appeared with her parents and siblings in the 1940 US Census, above. They lived at 4652 W Raneswood Ave (which I believe should be 4652 N Ravenswood Ave, in the Ravenswood neighborhood, on the north side of Chicago). Soon after 1940, her parents divorced, and the children went into foster care, mostly in the area of Princeton, Bureau County, IL.

The 1950 US Census has Lucille GAPINSKI, age 13, and her sister Frances A. GAPINSKI, age 11, at the Covenant Children's Home on East Elm Place, in Princeton, Bureau County, IL. 

In 1940, Richard ANSON was 5 years old, in Bureau County, IL. The ANSON family lived on a farm in 1935, but not in 1940. Ralph ANSON was a farm laborer, and Dorothy was a housekeeper. A daughter-in-law was living with them, so Richard must have had an older brother, who was not present. However the daughter-in-law was "Single." 

In 1969, Richard L. ANSON was a grain and livestock farmer, with 480 acres, near Princeton, IL. [Freeport Journal-Standard (Freeport, IL) Monday, 10 Feb 1969, page 2]

Frances was still living, as of 14 Nov 2016, according to her brother Ted's obituary.

There was a Francis Leon "Frank" GAPINSKI in Chicago, sometimes conflated with Frances. No relation, that I have found. It was Francis, not Frances, who died in 1994.

Updated 3 Mar 2023 by William Haloupek. Contact haloupek at gmail dot com.