Celia Amy Sizer Van Velzer 1858-1972

VAN VELZER, SIZER, SAMPSON, GALBRAITH, EGLIN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 9/1/2010 at 21:58:50

Death Claims Mrs. Van Velzer
The Rev. P. A. Davies Conducts Funeral Services for Aged Woman

Funeral services for Mrs. F. M. Van Velzer, 71 years old, who died here Sunday [March 6, 1927] were held Wednesday afternoon from the home on East Des Moines street. The Rev. P. A. Davis of the Presbyterian church conducted the service. Interment was made in Oak Hill cemetery.

Celia Amy Sizer was born in King Co., Ill., on July 8, 1858. The family moved to a farm near Potsville, Ill., when she was but a child one year old. Here she attended school and grew to womanhood. She was married to Francis Marion Van Velzer on Dec. 21, 1873. Shortly after the marriage the young couple moved from Illinois to a farm near Spirit Lake, when Mr. Van Velzer left the farm and began work for the railroad. The family lived in many places, among those were: St. James, Worthington, Pipestone, all in Minnesota, and Sanborn, Iowa.

The family moved to Estherville in 1889, this had been Mrs. Van Velzer’s home ever since. About three years ago she lost her husband, and about one years and a half ago she lost her oldest daughter, Mrs. Mae Sampson. There survive two daughters, Miss Myrtle Van Velzer of Estherville and Mrs. Addie Galbraith of Balaton, Minn., two brothers, William Sizer of Kalispell, Mont., and J. F. Sizer of Estherville, and one sister, Mrs. Rose Eglin of Mason City. There are 11 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Mrs. Van Velzer was a member of the Relief Corps, an organization to which she gave a very faithful service for many years. She was also a member of the Rebekah Lodge, where she belonged to the Past Noble Grand Club. She was a faithful member of the Presbyterian church of Estherville, and a woman loved in church and community. (Estherville Democrat, Estherville, IA, March 9, 1927)