AKKERMAN, Thomas W. 1903-1964

AKKERMAN, RALSTON

Posted By: Tammy (email)
Date: 2/24/2019 at 17:38:16

Thomas Akkerman, Mason City, Dies; Services Thursday

Thomas W. Akkerman passed away Monday, February 3, in a Mason City hospital. Funeral services were held at the Major Memorial Chapel in Mason City on Thursday, February 6, conducted by Dr. George Truman Carl of the First Methodist Church in Mason City. Burial was in the Memorial Park Cemetery with graveside Masonic Rites. Special Masonic Memorial services were held at the Major Chapel Wednesday evening.

Mr. Akkerman was born June 3, 1903, at Wellsburg, the son of Thomas and Ella Akkerman. His boyhood was spent in Wellsburg and graduated from the local high school. He attended State Teachers College in Cedar Falls and later taught in the rural schools in Grundy County.

On June 9, 1928, he was married to Alma Ralston of Meservey, who at that time was serving as principal of the Wellsburg High School. They were married at the Little Brown Church in Nashua.

In 1933, Mr. Akkerman attended Dunwoody Institute of Minneapolis, Minnesota where he studied painting and decorating. After graduation in 1934, he served for a time on the staff of the institute and attended the University of Minnesota. In 1934, he went to Eldora where he was the head instructor of the painting and decorating department of the Iowa Training School for Boys. He later served as assistant superintendent of the Eldora school. In 1944, Mr. Akkerman went to Mason City and began his work as an interviewer for the Iowa State Employment Security Commission.

He was a member of the Benevolence Lodge No. 145 AF & AM of Mason City; a member of the Iowa Consistory and a 32nd degree Mason; the North Iowa Shrine Club; the Clown Club of the Shriners organization and of the El Kahir temple. He was also a ember of the Iowa Chapter of the International Association of Personnel in Employment Security and had served as a past board member of this organization. He was a member of the Iowa Association of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Thomas Akkerma is survived by his wife, Alma; two sisters, Tillie Akkerman of Wellsburg and Mrs. Louise Hoekstra of Wellsburg and several nephews and nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Mrs. Dick (Lula) Claassen and Mrs. Otta (Lizzie) Tjaden, both of Wellsburg.

--The Wellsburg Herald (Wellsburg, Iowa), 6 February 1964, pg 7