Vriezelaar, Gradus A. 1888-1985

VRIEZELAAR, DOUMA, HERWEHE, TOOL, BRANNON, BENNETT, DUFF, VAN ROEKEL, VAN DOORNICK, VANDER PLOEG, VAN WYNGARDEN, BREED

Posted By: Michel Tool Daniels (email)
Date: 5/12/2004 at 09:29:53

GRADUS A. VRIEZELAAR
Gradus Vriezelaar, son of Arie and Wemeltje Douma Vriezelaar was born near Otley on September 9, 1888.
Gradus attended Central College Academy and taught several schools in Jasper and Marion counties. On December 30, 1913 he married Nettie B. Herwehe and moved to a farm between Otley and Monroe. To this union was born five children; Kathryn, James A., Jean B., Korinne and Blaine G. He was a charter member of the Marion County Farm Bureau and also a charter member of the Otley Coop. He was a member of the Northern and Iowa Nut Growers Associations, Iowa State Horticultural Society, the North American Fruit Explorers, State Historical Society and the Monroe First Baptist Church. For several years he was active in the Tamworth Hog Association, exhibiting them at the Iowa State Fair and sales throughout Iowa and Illinois. He also did propagation of fruit and nut trees, exhibiting apples, other fruits and nuts at the Iowa State Fair. He passed away November 4, 1985 at the Pella Community Hospital. He had resided on the same farm near Otley for 71 years. The past 3 ½ months he had been a resident of the Clearview Manor in Prairie City. He is survived by two sons and their wives; James and Carol Vriezelaar of Waverly and Queen Valley, Arizona; Blaine and Kay Vriezelaar of Monroe. Two daughters; Jean Tool of Monroe and Kathryn Vriezelaar of Otley. A son-in-law, C.A. Brannon of Colorado Springs. 10 grandchildren; Clint Vriezelaar of New York; Tom Brannon (U.S. Marine Corp.) and wife Nancy; Deborah Bennett and husband Orrin of Prairie City; Kent Vriezelaar and wife Collene of Sioux City; Anna Marie Brannon Duff of Mt. Vernon, Oregon; Dr. Stanley Vriezelaar of Columbia, Missouri; Dean Vriezelaar of California; Suzanne Brannon of the U.S. Navy; Thomas Vriezelaar of Monroe; and Molly Vriezelaar of Monroe. 7 great grandchildren; Nathan and Todd Vriezelaar, Justin and Melissa Bennett, Ryan and Kara Brannon and Blaine Thomas Vriezelaar. He is also survived by two sisters; Jeanette (Mrs. Louis) Van Roekel of Redlands, California and Margaret (Mrs. Walter) Van Doornick of Hill-Top Manor in Pella. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife in 1965 and his daughter Korinne (Mrs. C.A.) Brannon in 1975 and the following brothers and sisters: Mary (Mrs. C.D.) Vander Ploeg, Bertha (Mrs. John) Van Wyngarden, Nelle (Mrs. Peter) Breed, Katie, Dow, John, Henry, Jimmy and Tabitha.
Funeral Service: Friday, November 8, 1985 !:30 P.M. First Baptist Church; Monroe, Iowa
Officiating: Rev. Greg Boyle
Music: “The Old Rugged Cross”; “How Great Thou Art”; Mr. & Mrs. Marion Van Zee, duet; Mrs. Donald De Reus, organist.
Casket Bearers: Dr. Stanley Vriezelaar; Thomas Vriezelaar; Orrin Bennett; Kent Vriezelaar; John Vriezelaar; John Breed
Interment: Silent City Cemetery; Monroe, Iowa
Memorials: Iowa Nut Growers