Riemersma, John J. 1857-1930 & Sarah De Wolf Family

RIEMERSMA, DEWOLF

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/17/2021 at 11:43:29

RIEMERSMA, JOHN J. 1857 – 1930 AND SARAH SUSANNE (DE WOLF) Family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial book of 1991 page… It was submitted to the book by Jean Meengs Kosters. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some Research Notes were added at the end.

John J. Riemersma was born October 1, 1857 (died 2-23-30) in Holland, Michigan. His parents. J.J. Riemersma and Jennie (Strabblina) Riemersma, came from Friesland, Holland, in the 1850’s. They homesteaded on East 8th Street in Holland, Michigan. There were five children, the oldest was John J., Gerrit, Anna (Brink), Jenny (Henry Vander Ploeg), Alice (Veining) and from the first marriage a half sister Martha.

John J. graduated from Hope College with an A.B. degree in 1881. Graduated from Calvin College Seminary in 1884 and was also ordained in 1884. He held pastorates in Rochester, New York, 1884-1890; Zeeland, Michigan, 1890-1894; Chicago, Illinois, 1894-1899; Sioux Center, Iowa, 1899-1901. He spent twenty years as a teacher in rural Sioux Center, Iowa.

He married Sara Susanne De Wolf, born Sept. 6, 1864 (died April 16, 1949), of Rochester, New York on October 5, 1886, at Rochester, New York. She was the daughter of Peter De Wolf and Sarah De Hollander. To this union five children were born. They all attended grade school and graduated from the Sioux Center High School.

John J. (Johannes), born November 6, 1887 (died 10-10-64) in Rochester, New York. He married Madeline Van Putten in 1919, John graduated from Hope College, Holland, Michigan , with an A.B. degree in 1914. Received his Masters from University of Michigan in 1927. Taught in Holland, Michigan, High School 1915-1916. Served in U.S. Army 1917-1919. He was high school principal in Holland, Michigan until 1957. He served as director of student teaching for junior and senior high school and as curriculum coordinator. They raised three sons of Dr. Paul Harrison.

James J. (Jakobos), born October 22, 1889 (died 7-29-64) in Rochester, New York. He graduated from University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. He was a veteran of World War 1. He worked as a pharmacist in Sioux Center, Iowa, and Orange City, Iowa. In March 1920, he went to Hospers, Iowa, and owned a drug store and was pharmacist there. He spent 55 years as a pharmacist. He married Mildred Wetzley on June 22, 1922, at Schleswig, Iowa. To that union three daughters were born, Lois (married John Roghair), Ruth (married Dale Stover), and Barbara (married John Keenan).

Johanna was born March 3, 1891 (died 1-2-68) in Zeeland, Michigan. She taught in a rural school for five years and in Sioux Center Christian School. She married John William Kosters on March 22, 1916, in Sioux Center, Iowa. To this union five children were born: Henry D., Sara Susan, John James (deceased 1983), Francis Allen, and Eileen Evelyn (married Lyle Stange).

George (Gerritt) was born July 20, 1894 (died 1-22-70) in Chicago, Illinois. He was a veteran of World War 1. He worked as a bookkeeper for a number of years and for 42 years was the Manager of the Farmers Co-op Lumber Society in Sioux Center, Iowa.

Ben (Benjamin) was born October 20, 1900 in Sioux Center, Iowa. He graduated from Hope College in Holland, Michigan, with an A.B. degree in 1925. He received his Masters from the University of Michigan in 1942. He was Principal of Gobles, Michigan, High School as well as baseball and basketball coach 1929-1931. He was Superintendent at Benton Harbor, Michigan. He married Mildred Mallhagen of St. Joseph, Michigan on June 24, 1930. To that union one son, Dwight was born on Jan. 6, 1935.

Sarah Caroline was born May 29, 1905 (died 11-18-43) in Sioux Center, Iowa. She spent several years teaching in a rural school. She married Orin Franke and they lived on a farm near Ireton, Iowa.

By Jean (Meengs) Kosters

Additional Items submitted by Wilma J. Vande Berg

DEATH of John J. Riemersma 1857-1930
Riemersma, John born 20 May 1857 died 23 Feb 1930 Father wife Sarah buried in Memory Gardens cemetery Sioux Center IA
Rock Valley Bee of Feb 28, 1930 Sioux Center News
John Riemersma who had been seriously ill for some time, passed away at his home Sunday. Funeral service were held Tuesday.
The Sioux Center News of 1930 is not available in digitized form.
Researchers Note: A report on Ancestry.com (by others) John J. Riemersma born Mary 20 1857, Zeeland Ottawa Co. MI. died Feb 23, 1930 Sioux Center IA, son of Jan Riemersma 1831-1906 and Jantje Strabbing 1835-1928. His wife was Sarah Susanna De Wolf 1864-1949. Children listed – Martha Riemersma 1885, John J. 1887-1964, James John 1889-1964, Johanna 1891-1967, George 1895-1970, Benjamin 190-1996, Sarah Caroline 1905-1943.

DEATH of Sarah Mrs. J. J. Reimersma 1864-1949
Hawarden Independent April 28, 1949
MRS. SARAH RIEMERSMA DIES AT SIOUX CENTER
Ireton, Iowa—Funeral services were held Tuesday, April 19, for Mrs. Sarah Riemersma of Sioux Center, who died April 16. .Services were held at the home and at the First Christian Reformed church She was preceded in death by her husband, J. J. Riemersma, and a daughter, Mrs. Oren Franke of Ireton, who died November 17, 1943.
Mrs. Riemersma was born in Rochester, N. Y., September 6, 1864. Survivors are four sons and a daughter, George and Mrs. W. A. Kosters of Sioux Center, Ben of St. Joseph, Mo., John of Holland, Mich., and Jim of Hospers; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; two sisters and two brothers.

The Riemrsma,Kosters, and Meengs connection: John W.Kosters was married to Johanna Riemersma, They and son son Francis Kosters married to Jean Meengs author of the story in the Sioux Center Centennial book.

Sioux Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
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