Dennis served 4 years in the Air Force during the Korean Conflict. During this time Elberta taught school in Toledo and Ames, IA. They were married on 18 Jun 1956 in St. Francis De Sales Church in Ossian, IA. To this union 8 children were born: Wayne, John, Michael, Ann, Edward, Jean, Kathleen and Becky.

Dennis and Elberta farmed the E.S. Huinker farm near Calmar immediately following their marriage in 1956. In 1963 they purchased the farm from his parents. The interest in purebred hog genetics started by E.S. continued on this farm, but Dennis soon replaced the Poland China hogs with Durocs and in 1979 the farm became incorporated and known as Huinker Durocs, LTD. The family helped in the farming operation. The boys were active in the hog showing and farm work.

The girls and boys both shared a love of athletics and often spent spare time playing soft ball on the front lawn, sometimes joined by neighbor kids too. Dennis enjoyed the playing as much as the children and was often known to finish supper saying "First batter”. Dennis and Elberta enjoyed fostering a spirit of competition within their family. After a summer's day of hard work they would run races on the lawn, have ping-pong or pool family tournaments or play Dennis's favorite card game “500.”

Each summer their family vacations were usually going to a National Hog Show somewhere in the Midwest.

Wayne presently farms with his wife Roxanne and daughters Julie, Emily and Lisa near Nordness. They raise Yorkshire purebreds. John and his wife Ruth with children Lee, Jacqueline, Danielle and Steven are the third generation of Huinkers living on the Huinker farm and continue to raise hogs. Michael and his wife Kim and family Hannah, Lydia and Dane live on an acreage near Decorah. Michael is a loan officer for Security Bank in Decorah. Ann married Dennis Tressel of Dubuque. She graduated from Loras College, Dubuque, and has 2 children: Ben and Elizabeth. Ann works in advertising. Edward graduated from Luther College, Decorah and works for a computer company in San Diego, CA. Jean married Tim Sullivan of East Dubuque, IL. She graduated from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA and is a pediatric nurse at the University Hospital. They have a daughter Christina. Kathleen married Thomas Timp, graduated from Coe College and works forWM. C. Brown Publishing in Dubuque. Becky graduated from Yale University in New Haven, CT and is a senior law student at Quinnipiac Law School in Hamden, CT

Dennis and Elberta moved to Calmar in 1992. They are members of St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Calmar. Having the whole family together for special occasions, family picnics and dinners has been an important part of their life.

Huinker, Joseph R. and Sheryl (Snitker)

(Janet Hanson)

Joseph R. Huinker was born at Decorah, IA the son of Charles and Edna (Brincks) Huinker. He attended school at DeSales in Ossian and South Winneshiek at Calmar, IA.

Joseph married Sheryl Snitker 26 Nov 1977 at St. Francis Catholic Church in Ossian. Sheryl was born at Waukon and christened at Salem United Church. Her parents are Lloyd Snitker and Joyce (Kolsrud) of Frankville.

Sheryl attended school at Postville High and one year at North Iowa Community College at Dubuque, IA.

Joseph is a construction worker and is now farming the Huinker home farm in Bloomfield Twp. near Ossian. Sheryl is the secretary-bookkeeper as well as a partner in the farming operation. They are members of the St.Francis DeSales Church in Ossian. They have 3 children: Jill Ann; Corev J.; and Bobbie Jo . They were all born at Decorah.