SIETSEMA, Herman 1912-2004

SIETSEMA, HAAN, ROSS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 11/18/2010 at 13:09:48

Herman Sietsema, 91, of Wellsburg, died April 18 at his residence. Funeral services were April 21 at Wellsburg Reformed Church. Burial followed at Shiloh Cemetery. A memorial fund has been established.

Herman was born September 16, 1912, on a farm in Pleasant Valley Township, rural Grundy County, the son of George J. and Gertie (Haan) Sietsema. He attended the rural school near his home and also one year of high school in Wellsburg. When he was 20, he began working for Herman Hippen in the Shell Service Station and did some trucking. He later bought his own truck and went into business with John Snittjer and did livestock buying and hauling, both locally and long distance by semi truck to Chicago. During the summer months, he hauled gravel.

On February 24, 1937, he was united in marriage to Yvonne Ross and they made their home in Wellsburg. In 1939, he bought the Pool Hall from Earl Greany and operated it for one year when he sold it back to Earl. Herman and Yvonne then made plans to move onto his parents' farm. They lived there for four years and then rented the Grundy County Poor Farm, which they farmed from 1945 to 1951. They then bought their own farm in Pleasant Valley Township where his brother John lived for 21 years, and John and his family moved to Wellsburg. Herman and Yvonne built a new home on the farm and made many other improvements, living there for 19 years. In the fall of 1969, they sold their farm to LuVern Boelts and they bought a lot in Wellsburg. Herman's brother, Harvey and his crew of carpenters, built their present home for them. They were able to move in February of 1970. The first three years of Herman's retirement he worked at the Snittjer Grain Co. by driving and delivering feed to local farmers. He then drove a school bus until he was 65. After that he helped some of his farmer friends with their spring and fall fieldwork.

His hobby was fishing and they both thoroughly enjoyed their vacations in Northern Minnesota and Canada with friends. He was always a helping hand to anyone who needed it. They were members of Second Christian Reformed Church and he served numerous times as Deacon and Elder. They transferred to the Wellsburg Reformed Church in December 1990.

He is survived by his wife, Yvonne of Wellsburg; one brother, George Sietsema of Wellsburg; one sister-in-law, Beulah Sietsema of Wellsburg; and 20 nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, John, Edward, and Harvey Sietsema; and three sisters, Jennie (Mrs. Arend) Fisher, Matilda (Mrs. Neil) Okones and Esther (Mrs. Edw.) Mennenga.

--The Grundy Register/Wellsburg Herald (Grundy Center, Iowa), 22 April 2004, pg 13