Kastein, Gerhard 'Gerrit' 1855 & Everdiena Heusinkveld Fam.

KASTEIN, KASSTIJN, HEUSINKVELD, LAMMERS, WISSELINK

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/24/2021 at 18:51:26

Kastein, Gerhard ‘Gerrit’ 1855 and Everdina Johanna Heusinkveld Family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial book of 1991 page 391 and 392. I was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw and research notes added by Wilma J. Vande Berg both of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

Ancestry: Dirk, Zwier, Hendrik, Everdina Kastein b. Dec. 13, 1856 at Wisch, Prov. Of Gelderland. d. Sept. 29, 1933 maried Gerrit Kastein from Gendringen, Gelderland (3-29-1855 to 12-13-1918). Came to America in 1887.

Kastein Children; Dena 1884-1962 m. John Vos Sheldon, Iowa; William 1886-1954 m. Minnie Vos farmed Hospers, Iowa; Wesselina 1890-1975 m. Jacob A. Wandscheer Sioux Center, Iowa; Henry 1892-1960 m. Johanna Kuiper Springfield, S. Dak.; Anna 1897-1984 m. Ben Wandscheer Sioux Center, Iowa. One daughter died at 7 months of pneumonia.

Gerrit Kastein was a gardener (tuin man) and a caretaker of large estates with flowers, shrubs, and trees as his special care. Although he enjoyed the work, he became weary of it because the necessary equipment was so often lacking. Dina’s four brothers had gone to America, and in the spring of 1887, Dina and Gerrit followed with their two small children.

Dina was very seasick during most of the ocean voyage of six weeks, as they had many windy days or a dense fog, with the sun seldom visible. On the long train trip from N.Y. to Plankinton, S.D., Gerrit became ill, and with Dina still weak, it was difficult to care for the children. Two of Dina’s brothers met them at the train at Plankinton with a wagon and a team of oxen, and took them to the brothers’ claims. They went through lakes and deep ponds at times, so that the oxen were almost swimming and the wagon was swaying. The Kasteins joined the church there at Harrison, S.D.

In early summer, a severe wind and hail storm levelled the crops. The noise of the wind and hail was so great that it was not possible to shout above the storm. The Kasteins moved to N.W. Iowa on the advice of a cousin of Gerrit’s near Sioux Center. They rented a house in Orange City, and Gerrit found various types of work. Dina’s brother John stayed with them until his death from pneumonia. Gerrit found permanent work as a care-taker for the properties of a banker. A house was built on the property and the Kasteins had their own garden. Gerrit had some mastoid trouble which finally cleared up by heavy drainage from his ear. The last four children were born here. In 1899, a tornado came through Orange City destroying some of the property. Gerrit’s employer decided to go to California where such storms were unknown. Gerrit then began farming, first northeast of Sioux Center, next south of Hull, and then southeast of Boyden.

The spiritual side was interwoven in Gerrit’s everyday walk of life. On winter evenings, the family sometimes gathered at a neighbor’s house where Gerrit would lead the group in the singing of Dutch psalms in four-part harmony. Gerrit would also get mid-week prayer meetings started, wherever they moved. The families would often get together for worship services in their home on Sunday afternoon.

In 1905, they rented a half-section of land at Artesia, South Dakota. In the first summer, a twister struck and destroyed the barn, grainery, cattle shed, and windmill. The house and other buildings were still intact. A new barn was built and there was a good harvest. In 1914, they moved to a house in Sioux Center, where Gerrit soon beautified the place with plantings. He took charge of the Sioux Center cemetery, but this was heavy work. He had a stroke in 1918 and passed away two weeks later. Dena went to live with her daughter, Lena for her remaining 15 years. She enjoyed doing embroidery work. She had always been a good, patient mother, cheerful, inclined to see the bright side of life.

Submitted to the book by Adelaide B. Hoekstra

RESEARCH NOTES added by Wilma J. Vande Berg

BIRTH RECORD of Gerhard Kasstijn on 29 Mar 1855 at Oer Oude Ijsselstreek Gendringen Gelderland Netherlands, born to Hessel Kasstijn 31 and Everdina Hendrika Lammers. (note marriage has his father Wessel and birth has his father Hessel)

BIRTH RECORD of Everdiena Johanna Heusinkveld born to Derk Willem Heusinkveld 44 and Wesselina Wisselink born on 13 Dec 1856 at Sinderen Wisch Gelderland Netherlands

MARRIAGE RECORD of Gerhard Kasstijn a gardener age 28 married Everdina Johanna Heusinkveld age 26 on 31 July 1883 at Wisch Gelderland Netherlands. His parents were Wessel Kasstijn and Everdina Hendrika Lammers. Her parents were Derk Willem Heusinkveld and Wesselina Wisselink.

OBITUARY of Gerhard Kastein 1855-1918
Kastein, Gerhard born 1855 died 1918 Sioux Center, Iowa
Find a grave lists Gerhard Kastein born 29 mar 1855 Gendringen, Gelderland Netherlands died 13 Dec 1918 Sioux Center IA wife was Everdiena Johanna Heusinkveld Kastein, children Dena Vos, Wesselina Wandscheer and Aaan Henrietta Wandscheer. Gerhard’s parents were Wessel Kastein and Cordina Hendrika Lammers
De Volksvriend of Dec 26, 1918 In Dutch
Translation:
Obituary
Friday, December 13, 1918, fell asleep softly and calmly in his Savior and Redeemer, my loving husband and father of the Children. Gerhard Kastein, more than 63 years old. For some time it had been his desire to be redeemed from the things of this world, and to be with his Savior, and to see him face to face. He ever sought to serve his Master with diligence and faithfulness, being his only striving to glorify Christ. The assurance that he has gone into the rest that is left for God's people, and that he now rejoices with the multitude of the lost, comforts us in our sorrow. We mourn, not like those who have no hope. You will guide me by Your counsel, then You will receive me into Your glory. Mrs. G. Kastein, Dena Voss Kastein, John Voss, Willem Kastein, Minnie Kastein Voss, Lena Wandscheer Kastein, Jac Wandscheer, Henry Kastein, Annie Kastein Kuiper, Annie Wandscheer Kastein, Ben Wansdcheer, Sioux Center IA 21 Dec 1918.

OBITUARY of Everdina J. Mrs. Gerhard Kastein 1856-1933
Source: Alton Democrat (10-6-1933)
Birth: December 13, 1856
Death: September 29, 1933
Mrs. Kastein was an early Sioux County Resident and Came From Netherlands in 1887. Her funeral was Monday.
Mrs. G. Kastein passed on at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Jake Wandscheer, Friday afternoon. She had not been well since April but was confined to bed but a few weeks before her passing. She was 70 years of age last December.
Everdina Heusinkveld was born December 13, 1856 in the Netherlands, where she grew to womanhood and was married to Gerhard Kastein in 1883. Four years later the couple came to the United States, lived a short time at Springfield. South Dakota, and then settled at Orange City where for some years Mr. Kastein was caretaker for Lewis brothers there and the family were Orange City residents for 18 years. They went later to Springfield. South Dakota, where they farmed for several years. Mr. Kastein died in 1918 and his widow has since made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Jake Wandscheer.
She is survived by five children, Mrs. John Vos of Boyden, Will Kastein of Hospers, Mrs. Jake Wandscheer, Sioux Center, Henry Kastein, Springfield, South Dakota, and Mrs. Ben Wandscheer, Sioux Center.
She was a splendid woman of the pioneer type and will be missed by many besides her immediate family.
Reverend Stegeman of Hospers, an old friend of the family, had charge of funeral services Monday at the Wandscheer home and Central Reformed church, the pastor, Hev. Keuning, being absent.

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