About Us

The Ivance Company, Inc. (aka John W Ivance Company, Inc.) was
established in 1946 by John Ivance Sr. The office had been located
in the Pioneer Building on 4th and Robert Street in St. Paul, MN from
1946 to May 2006. On June 1st 2006, we moved to our current
location in the Alliance Bank Center, St. Paul. The agency is still in
the family, owned and operated now by the 3rd generation! John
Ivance Sr is still alive and well at the age of 100!. His 101st birthday
is in May of 2008.

John Sr. worked in the insurance business for some years prior to
WW2. For a time he was with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company,
then with American Hardware / Hardware Mutual up until WW2.
John Sr. was drafted when he was 35 years old, and was
encouraged by the draft board to seek a "war job" since he was
almost too old for the draft, and had a couple of young children at
home. He accepted their advice and went to work for 3M as a
research chemist, where he worked for the duration of the war.

In 1946, he felt it was time to get back into the insurance business,
but this time as his own boss. Wife Alice worked for the agency
on-and-off over the years doing the books. The 2nd generation
started to move into the picture in 1951. John Ivance Jr. "Jack"
joined the agency in that year after college and a short stint in
retail. John Sr.'s son-in-law, John Chisholm, came on board in 1956
after a short teaching career in the public school system. Yes, there
were now 3 Johns in the office!

John Sr. retired in 1971 after running the agency for 25 years. It
was time to pass the business onto the 2nd generation. John
Ivance Jr and John Chisholm purchased the agency from John Sr. in
1971.

Here comes the 3rd generation. In 1979, John Chisholm's son "John
Robert" Chisholm started working at the agency. Gary Underwood,
John Jr's son-in-law, came on board in 1981. Then in 1987, John
Ivance III joined the agency. Just in case you lost track, there are
now 4 John's working in the office!

John Jr retired in 1994, turning his half of the business over to son
John III. John Chisholm retired in 2002, turning his half of the
business over to his son, "John Robert". The transition to the 3rd
generation was now complete.

There is a 4th generation of Ivances, however, it is unknown at the
moment if any of them want to pursue a career in the insurance
business...They're still dealing with the day-to-day challenges of
getting up in the morning and to school on-time!

Ivance Company, Inc.
Insurance Since 1946

651-224-7358

Serving Minnesota & Wisconsin

Ivance Company, Inc.
55 5th Street East Suite 1050
Saint Paul, MN 55101

651-224-7358    Phone
651-223-5079    Fax
800-728-9427    Toll Free
info@ivance.com Email