SIETSEMA, Harvey L. 1923-1981

SIETSEMA, HAAN, KOOBS, MCGINNIS

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 1/11/2011 at 09:02:21

Former Grundy Man Murdered In California

A former Grundy Center building contractor and city councilman, Harvey Sietsema, 57, was shot and killed during an argument with his brother-in-law in Lake San Marcos, Calif., about 11 p.m. Saturday.

Sietsema reportedly was struck in the neck by a shotgun blast and died instantly.

The body was flown to Iowa Wednesday night, and is at the Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home in Grundy Center. The body will be on view there from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, and at the church prior to the service.

The funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the First Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center, with burial in Rose Hill Cemetery, Grundy Center.

Harvey was a building contractor here for many years, and served on the Grundy Center city council from 1963 to 1970. He later moved to Des Moines and then to Lake San Marcos, Calif.

He is survived by his wife, Jean, Lake San Marcos, Calif.; two daughters, Connie, Mrs. Richard Ambrose, Minnetonka, Minn., and Suzanne, Mrs. Paul Blackburn, Wayzata, Minn., and one son, Douglas, Minnetonka, Minn.

Also surviving are three brothers, Edward, Herman and George, all of Wellsburg; three sisters, Jennie Fisher of Ackley, Matilda, Mrs. Neil Okones of Wellsburg, and Esther, Mrs. Edward Mennenga, Steamboat Rock; and three grandchildren.

A memorial fund has been established.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 19 February 1981, pg 3
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Former Grundy Man, Harvey Sietsema Died

Funeral services for Harvey Sietsema, 57, were held Thursday, February 19 at the First Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center with the Rev. Thomas P. Harp officiating.

Merle Mamminga sang "How Great Thou Art" and "The Lord's Prayer", accompanied by Mrs. Glenn Dieken, who also played selected number for the prelude and postlude.

Casket bearers were James Duwelius, Donald Stahl, Don Stout, Charles Lehr, Keith Myers and C. E. Engelkes. Ushers were Floyd Rouse and George Hauser. Mrs. Ernie Blythe and Mrs. Paul Slinker were in charge of the floral arrangements. Burial was in Rose Hill Cemetery. Friends and relatives were invited back to the church following the services for a period of Christian fellowship and refreshments.

Harvey was born July 10, 1923 in Pleasant Valley township in Grundy County, Iowa, the son of George and Gertie Haan Sietsema. He grew up in the Wellsburg area, and graduated in 1942 from the Wellsburg High School. On April 25, 1947 he was united in marriage to Maxine Koobs in the Little Brown Church at Nashua. After their marriage they lived in Grundy Center until the fall of 1970 when they moved and made their home in Des Moines. In February of 1974 his wife passed away. In 1977 he moved to California and on August 12, 1978 he married Jeannie McGinnis and they made their home at 1315 San Pablo Drive, Lake San Marcos, California.

Harvey served in the U. S. Army during WWII. While living in Grundy Center he ran Sietsema Construction Company Inc.

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife, one infant daughter, Pamela, one brother John and three grandsons.

He is survived by his wife Jean, Lake San Marcos, Calif.; two daughters, Connie, Mrs. Richard Ambrose, Minnetonka, Minn., and Suzanne, Mrs. Paul Blackburn, Wayzata, Minn., and one son, Douglas, Minnetonka, Minn.

Also surviving are three brothers, Edward, Herman and George, all of Wellsburg; three sisters, Jennie Fisher of Ackley, Matilda, Mrs. Neil Okones of Wellsburg, and Esther, Mrs. Edward Mennenga, Steamboat Rock; and three grandchildren.

A memorial fund has been established. The Engelkes-Abels Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 26 February 1981, pg 3