SMIT, Meikelina 1856-1932

SMIT, VANDERHEIDE

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 9/7/2015 at 19:02:51

Death Removes Mother From Home Of J. R. Smit

Mrs. J. R. Smit died at her home in Grundy Center Sunday afternoon following a brief illness. Mrs. Smit's health began to fail after she had a touch of typhoid fever six years ago. The decline in her health was very slow until about three months ago, after which her health and strength seemed to fail noticeably daily. She fell at her home a week before her death. The shock from this fall hastened the end.

Mrs. Smit came to Grundy county from Leer, Germany, in June 1884. A few weeks after her arrival here she was married to J. R. Smit on June 29, 1884. Shortly after their marriage the young couple moved to North Dakota, where they lived on a farm for five years. At the end of that time they moved back to Grundy county on the farm on which they made their home for 33 years and which Mr. Smit still owns.

Mrs. Smit was born in Leer, Germany, March 1st, 1856. Her maiden name was Meikelina Vanderheide. She and Mr. Smit became acquainted while they were growing up in the country of their birth and they kept in touch with each other through correspondence after Mr. Smit came to this country, and it was to join her future husband that Mrs. Smit came to this county with a girl friend.

The Smit family moved to Grundy Center in 1922 and they have made their home here continually since that time.

Funeral services conducted by Rev. Stratemeier were held at the German Presbyterian church in Grundy Center Wednesday afternoon and there was a very large attendance. Burial was in the cemetery at Drake's church.

Nine children came to bless the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smit. Two of them died in infancy. The husband and seven children survive. The children are Christina, who is at home; Mrs. C. W. Engelkes, Parkersburg; Mrs. John S. Dirks, Colfax township; Nettie, who is at home; Mrs. Henry Henrichs, Wellsburg; Mrs. Fred Everts, and Henry, who resides on the home farm. There is one surviving sister, whose home is in Leer, Germany.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 20 October 1932, pg 12

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Obituary of Mrs. J. R. Smit

Meikelina Smit, nee Van der Heide, was born March 1, 1856, in Leer, Ostfriesland, Germany. Coming to America in June, 1884, she made her residence at Holland, Iowa. On June 30, 1884, she was united in marriage to John R. Smit. They settled first in North Dakota, occupying a farm near Wahpeton. After five years they returned to live on a farm in Colfax township, Grundy county, making this place their home for 33 years. They then moved to Grundy Center and have been well known residents of this town for ten years.

Mrs. Smit's health was impaired some years ago, when a siege of typhoid fever left her in a weakened condition, but not until this summer became it apparent that her strength was wasting away. She showed the effects of the disease increasingly week by week, but only about a week was she fully confined to her bed. Held in the arms of her daughter, she slumbered peacefully away on Sunday evening, October 16, 1932. She reached the age of 76 years, 7 months and 16 days.

The near relatives to mourn her departure are her husband; the children, Christina Smit, Clara, Mrs. C. W. Engelkes of Parkersburg; Henrietta, Mrs. John S. Dirks, Holland; Nettie Smit; Hannah, Mrs. Henry Hendricks, Wellsburg; Lena, Mrs. Fred Abels, Fern; Henry Smit, Holland; four sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, fourteen grandchildren, and one sister, Mrs. Friedrich Stumpf, in Leer, Ostf., Germany.

Brought up in the Reformed faith in Germany, Mrs. Smit united on confession of faith with the Holland Presbyterian church, Dr. J. E. Drake pastor. Upon moving to Grundy Center she joined by letter of dismissal the First German Presbyterian church of the city, of which she was a faithful member until death. She also was a member of the Ladies' Aid Society of the latter church and took a very active interest in its activities, as in all the work of the church. The services found her in her pew eagerly receiving the preaching of the Word. Her vacant place, as that of others whom we have laid aside in these years, is a challenge for those who follow after to serve Christ and the church in like loyalty and devotion.

The funeral took place on Wednesday, October 19, 1932. After a brief service at the house the funeral procession made its way to the First German Presbyterian church. The church was filled with bereaved and friends. Dr. J. E. Drake preached the German sermon, taking for his text II Timothy 4, 18. The pastor of the deceased, Dr. K. J. Stratemeier, gave the English discourse, based on I Thessalonians 4, 13-14. Some of the deceased's favorite Christian hymns were impressively rendered by Mrs. Henry Dirks, Jr., of Holland, and Mrs. Wm. Kruse, of Grundy Center.

--The Grundy Register (Grundy Center, Iowa), 27 October 1932, pg 6