Heerema, Martin John 1911-2007

HEEREMA, VANDER BEEK, VAN HOUWELING

Posted By: Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/26/2008 at 19:31:18

Martin John Heerema was the first of six children that were born to Pieter and Jeneke Vander Beek Heerema. Pieter had come to the United States from the Netherlands with his widowed mother who took in laundry in order to make a living.

Martin was born at the parental home in Pella, Iowa on June 14, 1911. He graduated from Pella High School in 1928 and then went to work for the Rolscreen Company. Martin enrolled at Central College, graduating in 1934 with a Degree in Mathematics and Chemistry. After graduation from college, Mart, as he was known, returned to his employment at the Rolscreen Company where he remained for 4 years.

On June 30, 1933, he and Elva May Van Houweling eloped to Moberly, Missouri to get married. To this union three children were born: Douglas Lee on December 11, 1938, Martin Bruce on August 26, 1940 and Jane on June 25, 1948.

In 1938, Mart went into the automobile business with his father-in-law, A.B. Van Houweling selling Dodge and Chryslers. In 1941 he became a field agent for the Internal Revenue Service until he entered the United States Navy during World War II. Seaman First Class Heerema was discharged in December of 1944.

Following his discharge he returned to the A.B.Van Houweling Garage and from 1953 to 1963 was the purchasing agent for the Rolscreen Company. Mart then became the Vice-President of Financial Affairs for Central College. The college always remained a primary interest of Mart's. He was also a partner with the Pella Canning Factory. Mart had gotten his real estate broker's license in 1941 and in 1970 he retired from Central College and went into real estate sales until 1993. Buying and selling personal properties was a big part of Mart's life and in later years he managed their farms and did tax work.

On Monday evening, April 16, 2007, he passed away at the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella.

Those who will remember his life of 95 years, 10 months and 2 days are his wife of almost 74 years, Elva May, their three children and their spouses, Douglas L. and Nyla (Rozeboom) of Columbus, Ohio, M. Bruce and Sandra (Klein) Heerema of Pella and Jane and Alan Epstein of Sedalia, Colorado, 6 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Of his original family Mart leaves his two sisters: Ruth Squibb and Bernice Vander Ploeg and her husband, Charles and a sister-in-law, Frances (Ralph) Heerema all of Pella. Mart was preceded in death by his parents, Pieter and Jeneke Heerema; his parents-in-law, Albert B. and Nettie Van Zante Van Houweling; and his three brothers: Robert Heerema and his wife, Viola; Fred Heerema and his wife, Polly; Ralph Heerema; and a brother-in-law, Darwin Squibb.

Mart was baptized at the First Reformed Church and was a longtime, faithful member of the Second Reformed Church in Pella, where he sang in the choir with his wife, Elva May, for 54 years. He served on the consistory, was a Sunday School teacher and Sunday School Superintendent.

Mart was a charter member of the Pella Rotary Club, served as president, was 'Rotarian of the Year', and a Paul Harris Foundation member. He had been a member of the Van Veen-Van Hemert American Legion Post No. 89 of Pella since 1946, having served as commander. He served on the Pella Community School Board for nine years and spent 23 years as a member of the Pella Cemetery Association.

Mart was a charter member of the Pella Golf and Country Club and the Pella Opera House. He was a member of the Pella Historical Society and had served on the board. Mart spent years playing the bass drum in the city band as well as being a soloist and had roles in 3 Tulip Time operettas. Mart willingly accepted jobs as a 'fund raiser' for organizations he was a part of. He was a sports enthusiast, particularly of Central College sporting events and golfing. He was responsible for starting the Pella Little League program and the Central Club at Central College. Mart was a lover of nature and especially enjoyed his dogs and walks in the woods. As an independent business man, Mart was loved by his family and admired by the citizens of Pella, his favorite place.

For those desiring, in lieu of flowers the family respectfully requests memorials be designated for the Heerema/Van Houweling Scholarship at Central College or the Pella Regional Health Center in Pella, Iowa.

The Pella Chronicle, June 1, 2007