Daughters of Oro Valley: Gertrude Pusch Zipf

In March, the Oro Valley Historical Society heralded “Wonder Women of Oro Valley and Beyond” in the Pusch House Museum at Steam Pump Ranch. 

Our next four LOVE articles are a brief history of the daughters of Mathilda Pusch. This article is brief biographies of Gertrude, Future articles will feature Henrietta, Wilhelmina, and Maybelle. 

All attended the University of Arizona and were quite prominent in Tucson social circles.

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Gertrude Pusch Zipf
Gertrude (nicknamed Tootsie) was the first (surviving) child of Mathilda and George Pusch. She was born on April 4, 1883 at the Pusch family home on Jackson Street, in Tucson. Gertrude was one of the first students to attend the University of Arizona which at the time was on the outskirts of Tucson. 

Gertrude married Henry W. Zipf of Hopedale, Illinois. Henry was the Post-master of Tucson between 1930 and 1935. Gertrude and Henry had two sons, Henry G., an Army Airman, attorney and politician; and Frank, a Navy veteran. A third son (the eldest), Walter, editor of the Douglas Dispatch, was a half- brother to Henry G. and Frank.

 
Gertrude was integral to assisting in the management of the Pusch Land and Cattle Company along with her brother, Walter, when both her mother and father passed away. She was an avid horse rider.  It is said that she never drove an automobile.

Gertrude was a life-long resident of Tucson and well-known throughout the community. She died at the age of 90 on March 9, 1974.

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Our thanks to Pusch family decedents:
*Barbara McIntyre is an OVHS lifetime member and docent and has kindly provided the Pusch family history and many heirlooms to OVHS. She is the great- granddaughter of Mathilda, and granddaughter of Henrietta.
*Henry G. Zipf is the current President of the OVHS, the great-grandson of Mathilda and grandson of Gertrude. His family has kindly donated many family heirlooms, documents and oral history to the OVHS.
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In April the Oro Valley Historical Society will celebrate the Town of Oro Valley’s birthday. In conjunction with the Town of Oro Valley’s “Celebrate Oro Valley, As Our Story Grows”, we will focus on horses in the Southwest and the history of Steam Pump Ranch residents. The Pusch House Museum at Steam Pump Ranch is open on Saturday,

 
April 2 from 9 to noon and Saturday, April 9 from 9 to 2.

 
April 9 will be the last exhibit date for the spring/summer season. 

The Oro Valley Historical Society will resume exhibits and tours in September. Until then we are “gone fishing” for the summer. Hope to see you when we return but keep up to date with future activities and announcements on our website: www.ovhistory.org or our Facebook page.

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