BOEKHOFF, John 1874-1958

BOEKHOFF, HEMMES, VANDERWERF

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 6/23/2014 at 09:26:23

John Boekhoff, Father Of 21 Children Dies Sun.

John Boekhoff, father of 21 children, died at his home in Wellsburg Sunday evening at 7:30. He had been in failing health the past year and was bedfast many weeks before his death. Old age and complications brought on his death. He was 83 years, 4 months and 2 days old.

Nineteen of the 21 children are living: one, a son, lost his life in world War II. In addition to the 21 children, there are 25 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.

Services were held at one o'clock at the home on Wednesday and later at the Wellsburg Reformed church with Rev. George C. Poppen officiating. Burial was in the cemetery adjoining the church.

Casketbearers were Delbert Hippen, Dale Smith, Marlin Johnson, Jakie Johnson, Duane Boekhoff and Carroll Clark. Music was by Mrs. G. C. Poppen, Marcella Neessen accompanist.

Flower attendants were Mrs. Harold Fischer, Mrs. Jane Kienzle.

Obituary
John Boekhoff was born Oct. 14, 1874, of Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Boekhoff in Grundy county. He was married to Miss Mary Hemmes and they were blessed with six children, one of whom died in infancy. Mrs. Boekhoff also died in South Dakota on Apr. 7, 1911.

On Oct. 10, 1912, Mr. Boekhoff was married to Miss Mary Vanderwerf. They lived in South Dakota and then later for 12 years in St. Cloud, Minn. In 1929 they moved to Iowa. The last 21 years of his life were spent in Wellsburg.

In 1948 he became a member of the Wellsburg Reformed church by transfer. He believed in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ as his Savior.

Those who preceded him in death were his parents, two brothers, one sister, his first wife, one son, Lawrence, in the armed service, and one son in infancy.

He leaves to mourn his wife, his children, who are: Ben, Aplington; Fannie, Mrs. Leonard Johnson of Rice, Minn.; Anna, Mrs. George Tjabring of Parkersburg; Dick of Sauk Rapids, Minn.; Jennie, Mrs. Sam Van Heiden of Ackley; Sam, of Wellsburg; Ella, Mrs. Henry Riebkes of Ackley; Bertha, Mrs. Fred Kannegieter of Wellsburg; John Jr. of Wellsburg; Ernest, Wellsburg; Carrie, Mrs. John Wehrman of Iowa Falls; Albert of St. Cloud, Minn..; George of Wellsburg; Grace, Mrs. Delbert Hippen of Wellsburg; Lorraine, Mrs. Albert Boekhoff of Huntsville, Alabama; Evelyn, Mrs. Leland Lentz of Williams, Iowa; Esther, Mrs. Dale Smith of Conrad, Ia.; Marlys, Mrs. Carroll Clark of Marshalltown; Arnold, at home.

There are 25 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren, two sisters, Miss Jennie Boekhoff of Sioux Falls, and Tena, Mrs. Henry Dykstra of Bryan, So. Dak.; and a host of relatives and friends.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 February 1958, pg 11