Dykstra, Albert Lewis – 1871-1961

BREEN, CLARK, DYKSTRA, KOELMAN, MOORE, REIDEL, TERPSTRA

Posted By: Diana Wagner
Date: 7/13/2021 at 21:35:31

Life Story of Albert Dykstra
Albert Lieuwes Dykstra, 89, passed away Saturday morning, Jan. 14, at the Iowa Methodist hospital in Des Moines.
Funeral services were held in the Monroe Methodist church Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 2 p.m.
The Rev. Orin Young, pastor of the church, conducted the services. Mrs. Thelma Lewis sang as Mrs. Katherine Lubberden accompanied her on the organ.
Pallbearers were Gradus Vriezelaar, Henry Vriezelaar, Jens Jensen, William Dixon, Frank Huyser and Clifford S. Thomas. Burial was in Monroe cemetery.
He was born October 5, 1871 near Reitsum, in the province of Freisland, The Netherlands, to Lieuwe Alberts and Janke Terpstra Dykstra. His father, a dairy farmer and leader in local affairs, was an elder in the Dutch Reformed church of Reitsum where his son was baptized in march 1872.
A few days before they were scheduled to sail for this country in May 1882, his father died, leaving him with his mother and younger brother, Piebe, to make the trip to this country where they arrived in June of that year and settled with Dykstra relatives east of Otley. He became a United States citizen by naturalization in 1892.
On October 28, 1901, he married Jane Breen of Galesburg. They had four children, Mrs. Jeanneatte Moore of Iowa City, Mrs. Helen Reidel of Albion, Mrs. Fay Clark of Otley and Dr. Lewis Dykstra of Aurora, Ill.
Besides his father preceding him in death were his mother in 1931; a half brother, John Koelman, in 1904; and his wife in July 1960.
Surviving him are his children; six grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; his brother, Piebe of Omaha, Nebr.; a half brother Art Koelman of Newton; and several nieces and nephews.
Source: The Monroe Mirror; Thursday, January 19, 1961, page 1