JOHN H. VER STEEG (1852-1925)

VER STEEG, DE HERR, KUBERNESS

Posted By: H.Vargus (email)
Date: 6/17/2021 at 19:00:17

JOHN H. VER STEEG DIED SUDDENLY
Marion County Seed Corn Specialist Passed Away Tuesday Evening

John H. Ver Steeg died at his home northeast of Pella at 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 10, 1925, aged 74 years, 7 months, and 12 days. His death was caused by a cerebral hemorrhage. He is survived by one daughter, Mrs. John De Heer of Oskaloosa, a brother whose home is in Omaha, and three sisters. One sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Ver Steeg, lives in Pella; another, Mrs. Wm. Kuberness lives in Newton and the third lives in Kansas. Mr. Ver Steeg was a widower for several years before his death, and his sister-in-law kept house for him. Funeral services are today, Thursday, at the home at 12:30, and at the small chapel on Franklin Street at 1:30 p.m. Edmund Renaud will speak, an interment will be at the First Reformed Cemetery.

Mr. Ver Steeg was known all over Marion County and largely over the state because of his interest in seed corn. It has been his custom for the past twelve or fifteen years to direct a corn show to which the boys and young men of the community brought exhibits. The show has been a feature, and many of the younger farmers learned much of value to them in corn raising from Mr. Ver Steeg and the corn experts he brought to this show. The financing of such an exhibit was a big task, which Mr. Ver Steeg undertook cheerfully. He usually had a long list of prizes for exhibitors, secured by him as donations from Pella merchants and dealers in farming implements and supplies. The last of these corn shows was held only three weeks ago in the Pella High school building.

The week before his death, Mr. Ver Steeg went to Ames to attend the Farm-Home Week meeting at the state college, taking with him a number of young men from farms in the vicinity. He came home Saturday and was not feeling well. On Monday or Tuesday, a physician was called, who said there had been a slight cerebral hemorrhage. A more sever stroke at nine o’clock on Tuesday evening ended his life. His going will be felt among the corn growers of the community unless someone else is ready to step in and carry on the work he has begun.

Mr. Ver Steeg was also a cooperative weather bureau agent, being the only one in the immediate vicinity of Pella.

Source: “John H. Ver Steeg Died Suddenly.” The Pella Chronicle (February 12, 1926) p.1. Iowa: Pella, Marion County, Iowa