Kroon, John 1879-1962 & Wilhelmina Scholten Family

KROON, SCHOLTEN, SCHWARZ, SCHOOTBRUGGE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/1/2021 at 21:34:40

Kroon, John 1879- 1962 and Wilhelmina Scholten Family

This story was taken from the Sioux Center Centennial book of 1991 page 415 and 416, it was submitted to the book by Eda Kroon. It was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw and some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg both of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society.

John Kroon was the son of Dirk Kroon and Gerritje Schootbrugge who came to America from the Oldebroek-Doornspijk area of Gelderland, the Netherlands. He was born October 18, 1879 and the family came to America in 1892. As a child he lived on a farm in the Hull, Iowa, area and later the family farmed west of Sioux Center.

As a young man John was a farm hand. In 1902 he and his brother Henry purchased a threshing rig. They remained partners for two years and then Henry sold out to John. From then on John organized his own crews each summer and fall and spent several months in the grain fields from Sioux Center west to the river. He was in the threshing business 45 years.

On March 3, 1911 John Kroon married Wilhelmina Scholten in the bride’s home in Orange City, Iowa. Wilhelmina was the daughter of Lambertus Scholten and Eda Schwarz. Wilhelmina’s parents had come to America in 1886 from Neerbosch in the province of Gelderland, the Netherlands. Mrs. Kroon was born November 20, 1887 in Orange City, Iowa. Her father was a painter-decorator. She graduated from the Orange City High School and became a country school teacher in West Branch Township. A picture taken in 1906 shows her with her students at West Branch #3 school.

After their marriage, John and “Minnie” purchased a home in Sioux Center. The neighbors at the time didn’t know if they would like a school “marm” next door, but in a short while the two families became close friends. The family lived in four homes in the north part of Sioux Center, the last being the well built, stately home on the corner of 7th street and Main. This home became a traditional landmark for the community as, to this day, directions are given from “Kroon’s Corner.” The house was built in about 1911 and has since been moved to the country near Sandy Hollow Golf Course. The Depot Bank now states on the site.

John raised cattle and hogs, and operated his threshing rig in the summer. In the harvest season he would be out all week, weather permitting. His rig consisted of a tractor, separator, tank wagon and a Model T Ford. At the end of the harvest season it was no wonder that the children would anxiously await the first glimpse of their father as he came into view down the road with his impressive formation. John generally worked with a crew of five men; a separator man, tank man and two bundle pitchers. He operated the engine and kept it in good repair.

Mr. & Mrs. Kroon became members of Central Reformed Church, where all ten of the children were baptized and later became members. John served as a deacon, elder and Sunday school teacher. He also sang in a men’s quartet in the 1920’s and 1930’s. The other members of this quartet were Dan Wandscheer, Lewis Redeker, and Arend Arendsen. The accompanist was Gerrit Boeyink.

All of the Kroon children graduated from the Sioux Center Community High School and seven of them served their country in various branches of the military. These were Richard, Bert who lost his life in WWII, Henry, William, Trudy, Bernard and Stanton.

John Kroon died October 15, 1962 at 82 years of age. Wilhelmina died January 9, 1944. Both are buried in the Sioux Center Cemetery. Their children’s families are as follows:

Richard “Rich” Kroon was born September 1, 1912. He married Geraldean “Jeri” Arendsen on January 8, 1942. They are from North Platte, Nebraska, and are the parents of two children, Jacquelyn and Bruce.

Eda Kroon was born January 7, 1914. She has been a lifelong resident of Sioux Center. Her story and photo appear separately in this book.

An infant son, Lambertus Kroon, was born September 18, 1915 and died June 24, 1916. He is buried in the Sioux Center Cemetery.

Lambertus “Bert” Kroon was born August 12, 1917. He was killed November 4, 1943 while serving with the armed forces in Italy in WWII. He is buried in the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy.

Henry J. “Tubby” Kroon was born October 25, 1919 and married Gladys Van Den Brink on August 27, 1948. They reside in Eagle Grove, Iowa and are the parents of Judith and Steven.

William “Bill” Kroon was born November 30, 1921 and married Jeneva Koerselman on September 28, 1949. They make their home in Alton, Iowa, and are the parents of three children: Robert, Emily and Kenneth.

Gertrude “Trudy” Kroon was born April 29, 1924 and married Joseph “Joe” Plattner on August 11, 1946. They make their home in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Their four children are: John, Mary Jo, Henry and Francis.

Bernard C. Kroon was born February 14, 1927. He and Josephine “Joan” Dokter were married September 1, 1947, and made their home in Stockton, California. They are the parents of Dennis and Thomas. “Joan” died on January 13, 1988.

Norma Ann Kroon was born March 10, 1930 and on June 29, 1951 she married Donald E. Loe. They reside in Pueblo, Colorado and are the parents of Kimbal and Scott.

Stanton “Bucky” Kroon was born March 27, 1933 and married Marjorie Bartels on December 23, 1958. They reside in Owatonna, Minnesota. Their two children are Jon and Leah.

Submitted to the book by Eda Kroon

RESEARCH NOTES by Wilma J. Vande Berg

BIRTH RECORD of John, he was born Hannis Kroon to Dirk Kroon and Gerrigje Schobrugge, born 18 Oct 1879 at Doornspijk, Gelderland, Netherlands.

OBITUARY of John Kroon 1879-1962
Sioux Center News of Oct 18, 1962
John Kroon, City Resident For 62 Years, Dies Monday Funeral is 1:30 Thursday, Oct. 18. Funeral services will be held at Central Reformed church here at 1:30 p.m. today (Thursday) for John Kroon, 82, long-time Sioux Center resident, who passed away at his home at 705 N. Main Avenue about midnight Monday following a lengthy illness.
He had been bedridden much of the time the past two years. Services will be conducted by the Rev, Marion Klaaren and burial will be made in the Sioux Center Community cemetery under the direction of Vander Ploeg's Funeral home.
The above picture of Mr. Kroon was taken two years ago on the occasion of the observance of his 80 the birthday. Mr. Kroon was born October 18, 1879, in The Netherlands and came to the U. S. in 1891, as a boy. He worked for nine years in the Hull area as a farm hand and moved to Sioux Center community in 1900. In 1902 he and his brother, Henry, purchased a threshing rig which they operated together for two years. John then bought his brother's interest and operated as sole owner for another 43 years until 1947, working mostly in the area west of Sioux Center.
He had lived in the 705 N. Main Avenue home here for approximately 35 years. Its location had been popularly called "Kroon's Corner" for many years, and was commonly used as a direction starting point. In addition to operating a threshing rig, Mr. Kroon was for. Many years engaged in raising cattle and hogs. He also did some gardening. He was married to Wilhelmina Scholten at Orange City March 3, 1911. She passed away January 9, 1944.
Survivors include three daughters, Miss Eda Kroon of Sioux Center, cashier at the First National bank; Mrs. Don Los of New Brighton MN and Mrs. Joe Plattner of Annapolis MD, five sons Richard of Lexington, Nebr., Henry of Eagle Grove, la., "William of Alton, la., Bernard of Stockton, Cal., and Stanton of Belgrade, Minn,; a brother, Bert of Orange City, and three sisters, Mrs. Gerrit Kraayenhof and Mrs. Maas Korthals, both of Steen, Minn., and Mrs. John Van Ommen of Alvord, Iowa.

OBITUARY of Willemina Mrs. John Kroon 1887-1944.
Sioux Center News of Jan 13, 1944
Mrs. John Kroon Dies
Mrs. John Kroon Kroon passed away at her home at 11-15 Sunday evening Jan 9, 1944 after being ill for several months with cancer She had reached the age of 56 years and one month .
She is survived by her husband and eight children, Richard, serving his country somewhere In England, Eda at home, Henry' and William both in the navy, Trudy, Bernard, Norma and Stanton all at home Also her mother Mrs. L. Scholten. She was preceded in death by a nine months old baby who died in 1916 and Bert who died in the service somewhere in Italy on Nov. 4, 1943
Funeral services will be held on Thursday afternoon, Jan, 13, 1914 at one o'clock at the home and at 1:30 at the Central Reformed Church with the Rev Meengs officiating Burial will be made at the local cemetery and acting as pallbearers will be John T De Vries, Hans Faber, Ed Roghair, Gerrit Horstman, William Boone and Amos Vander Wilt.
Mrs. Kroon was born at Orange City on Nov. 25, 1887. On March 3, 1911 she was untied in marriage to Mr. John Kroon at Orange City and since that time she has made her home in this community. She was a loving and devoted wife and mother and will be deeply missed by her family and a large circle of friends. The news joins the community in extending its sincere sympathy to the family.
(Her maiden name was Willemina Scholten from the cemetery Index)

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