Manila (Noetzel) Gipp was born in 1902 in Wolverine Location in Michigan's Upper Peninsula where her father worked as chief clerk for the Wolverine Mining Company. She graduated from Calumet High School with the class of 1921.

After graduating from high school, Gipp enrolled in Blodgett Memorial Hospital's registered nursing program in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 1924 she received her nursing degree and shortly thereafter began working for the Calumet Public Hospital. For the next 33 years she served the hospital as nurse, director of nursing, and hospital administrator. During her tenure, many improvements were made at the hospital. An addition was built on the 2nd floor, an OB suite was built on the 1st floor, and the laboratory and surgical suites were expanded. In 1964, a 36 bed addition was added, increasing the bed capacity to 80. In 1967, the hospital received accreditation from the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals. Manila Gipp passed away in 2006.