Bierma, Cornelius – 1847-1927

BIERMA CHILSON JENSMA, SCHEPPELS, SHANNON, SMITH, VAN RYSWYK

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 5/27/2017 at 18:16:52

Bierma Services Held Thursday
Funeral services for Cornelius Bierma, formerly of Monroe, who died Monday evening, May 23, at the Lutheran hospital in Des Moines were held Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock at Rising Sun. Brother Paul Walters of Carlisle officiated.
Music was furnished by Mrs. Anderson West and Mrs. Ora Ellis who sang “Thy Will be Done,” “The Home Over There” and “Gesthemane.”
Burial was made in the Rising Sun cemetery.
Obituary
Cornelius Bierma was born July 17, 1847 in Brantgurn Province, Friesland, Kingdom of the Netherlands. He came to America April 18, 1867. At the age of 19 years he was married to Miss Sarah Frances Chilson, on April 4, 1873.
To this union was born seven children, three daughters and four sons Mrs. Glover Shannon of Monroe, Ia.; Hessel Bierma, Cedoux, Saskatchewan, Canada; Mrs. James Smith of Worchester, Saskatchewan; Orrion Bierma, who preceded his father in death Jan. 13, 1926; Theron Bierma, of Carlisle, Ia.; John Bierma, a missionary of Rath, India, and Mrs. Fred Scheppels of Hynes, Calif.
He is also survived by three brothers, John, in the old country, Henry of Prairie City and Dow, of Truro, Ia., one sister, Mrs. Van Ryswyk of Prairie City, and an aunt, Mrs. Sarah Jensma of Newton. Four sisters preceded him in death, Jane, Anna, Betty and Katie. There are 22 grandchildren besides a number of other relatives.
In 1892 Mrs. Bierma died, which left the family of motherless children for the father to rear. This he did faithfully with the aid of his eldest daughter. The children grew to manhood and womanhood in Iowa.
Moves to Canada,
In 1907 he with three of his children moved to Canada. After farming there about eight year he was elected secretary and treasurer of his municipality, which position he held for a period of 13 years. It was here he was stricken with paralysis.
Since this time he has been spending his time in Canada, Iowa and California where all his children are located with the exception of John, of India.
Mr. Bierma united with the Baptist church of Monroe in the year 1894 and afterwards with the Christian church at Rising Sun where he remained a faithful and active member until he placed his membership in the Christian church at Regina, Saskatchewan where it remained until he died.
Mr. Bierma was also a member of the I.O.O.F. and Rebekah orders for about 30 years and for several years was a member of the Woodmen lodge. He always had a kind welcome for everyone. When asked how he was his reply was always “Just fine, if I could only walk better.” He made new friends wherever he went, never forgetting the old friends.
He had been in his usual good health and was preparing for a trip to California when he was suddenly stricken May 10, at the home of Mrs. Maude Bierma at Rising Sun. He was removed to the Lutheran hospital where everything possible was done to restore him. After two weeks of unconsciousness, he died Monday evening at the age of 79 years.
Source: Newton Daily News; June 2, 1927