Schipper, Cornelius 1885-1968 & Jennie De Groot

SCHIPPER, DEGROOT, KOLE, KATJE

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 9/30/2023 at 10:03:34

Schipper, Cornelius 1885-1968 & Jennie De Groot Family

This story was taken from pages 456-457 of the Ireton Centennial Book (1882-1982). Family author unknown. The story was transcribed for this BIOS by Beth De Leeuw of the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society. Some research notes were added by Wilma J. Vande Berg.

Many years ago in a small community called Zeeland in the Netherlands a young fellow by the name of Cornelius Schipper had a dream. The consistent yearning and longing dwelled on his mind almost daily. A dream of leaving his family and friends to go across the ocean to a beautiful land known to him, as the land of opportunities and the land of plenty, “The United States of America”! He worked very hard and saved his money. He almost had enough saved up when he was drafted into the Queen’s Army. Case, as his family and friends all called him, was an expert horse rider, so he immediately was placed into the cavalry, riding with them for 2 years.

Upon leaving the Army he once again began to dream of America. He worked and saved. By now he was 22 years of age. His dream was fast becoming a reality. So—he decided to buy himself a new suit for the trip. Case very often would joke about that suit. He always said, “That sure wasn’t much of a suit!” It took two long weeks aboard the S.S. Amsterdam to reach America. When he arrived in New York City, the seat of his pants was so thin you could almost look through it, because of the long sit. He was the only member of his family to come to America. He returned for a visit only twice during his life here in America.

Once he arrived here, he migrated to Sioux City and on to the small town of Sioux Center, Ia. He had heard some of his friends from the old country were there. Here he found work as a farm laborer.

Case soon met a young lady named Jennie De Groot. Jennie’s father, Mr. Reurt De Groot, was a very strict man so the two were not permitted to court openly, so often met under a bridge near where she lived. After a courtship of several years they were married at the home of a minister in Sioux Center in 1914. Case was 29 and Jennie was 21. They made their living by farming in and around Center Twp. until the great depression hit in 1932-1933 and were forced to give it up. They moved back to the town of Sioux Center living there for 1 year before moving to Ireton, where they lived for many years. There were seven children born to this union. Five sons and 2 daughters. First born being Delbert in 1915, Pearl in 1919, Reuban in 1921, Cornelius Jr. in 1923, Andrew in 1925, Jeneva in 1932, and Walter James in 1935.

Work was very hard to find during this period called “the depression.” Case worked with a group called the W.P.A. “Work Progress Administration”, more jokingly called “we poke along!” The group helped build roads, bridges, etc. Later he was employed at the Albertson Tool Co. in Sioux City where he worked until he retired.

Case’s beloved Jennie became ill and died on Aug. 14, 1939 at the age of 46. The oldest daughter, Pearl, who was 18 years old at the time took over and cared for her father, brothers, and sister. This she did faithfully until the last of the children became of age and left home. It was because of her love and devotion that the family was able to stay together.

On Dec. 7, 1941 Japan attacked Pearl Harbor and was followed at once by a declaration of war by Germany against the U.S. Four of the Schipper brothers were soon drafted into the service and found themselves defending their dear homeland. Delbert was stationed in Burma and India and was a Sgt. Reuban in France who became a Staff Sgt. Cornelius Jr., known as Mike, was a Corp. in Germany and Belgium. He was the only one of the Schipper children ever to meet the grandparents who lived in Holland. Andrew joined the Navy and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. Many years later Mr. Schipper’s 5th and youngest son, Walter, also was inducted into the Armed Services. He was stationed in Colorado Springs during 1958, and later in Illinois.

In Dec. 1944, the Schipper family was deeply saddened after receiving a telegram from the 756th Tank Battalion Office, New York City, which stated with deepest sympathy that Reuban C. Schipper was killed in action on Dec. 30, during a battle on a hill in eastern France. He was buried in a beautifully situated cemetery in this part of France. Memorial services were held at the Christian Reformed Church Mar. 23, 1945. A male quartet from the Presbyterian Church consisting of Fred Schuette, Gale Bergsma, Ora Grau, and Bert Rogers sang “Beautiful Home.”

The Schipper family lived in various homes in Ireton, but the home next to the Ireton City Hall, now occupied by the Martin Prins family holds the most and the dearest memories to them all. Most of the children attended the Ireton Public School, Andrew, Jeneva, and Walter graduating from High School.

The Schipper brothers loved to sing and strummed their guitars many a time on the front porch of this home. They could often be heard singing in close harmony by many of the townfolk. They also sang for church affairs and other social events.

The family of Cornelius Schipper, Sr. still reside in Ireton with the exception of one son. They are:
Mr. Delbert Schipper, Sr. and his wife Jeanette (Anema) have 3 children. They are all married and live in Ireton. Del is retired from the carpenter business. Miss Pearl Schipper was a clerk in the local Post Office. She retired in June 1980 having served there for 30 years. Mr. Cornelius Schipper, Jr. lives in Inwood, Ia. He is a custodian for the West Lyon School system. He and his wife Gertrude have 5 children. Mr. Andrew Schipper is the Postmaster at the local Post Office in Ireton. He and his wife Joann (Nygaard), have 4 children. Jeneva, Mrs. Cornelius Coulander, also lives in Ireton. Her husband has been a town employee for 23 years. They have 4 children. Mr. Walter Schipper is a carpenter here. He and his wife Janice (Vander Hamm) have 3 children.

The Schipper family has resided in Ireton for 48 years.

RESEARCH NOTES: Added by Wilma J. Vande Berg From a report on ancestry.com public member tree submitted by other than this submitter.

Cornelius Schipper Sr. was born 28 Nov 1885 Kapelle, Zeeland Netherlands and died May 1968 Ireton IA. His parents were Dingenis Schipper 1859-1949 Neth. and Cornelia Kole 1863-1935 Neth. He married Jennie De Groot 9 Dec 1914 Sioux County IA.

Jennie De Groot was born 12 May 1893 Sioux County IA and died Aug 1939 Orange City IA. Her parents were Ruert De Groot 1868-1963 Sioux Center IA and Pietje ‘Pearl’ Katje 1873-1943 Sioux Center IA. They were the parents of :

CHILDREN: Also see above narrative on the children as well as most of their obits are posted on this web page see . http://iagenweb.org/boards/sioux/obituaries/index

1. Delbert Schipper born 6 Apr 1915 Maurice IA died 26 Aug 2001 Sioux Falls SD. Wife Jeanette Gertrude Anema 1922-1994, they had three children.

2. Pearl Schipper born 19 Jun 1919 Ireton IA died 26 Jun 2017 Hawarden IA

3. Ruben Cornelius Schipper born 19 Aug 1921 Maurice IA died Dec 30-1944 Epimal, France

4. Cornelius ‘Mike’ Schipper born 14 Aug 1923 Center Twp Sioux County IA died 11 Oct 2002 Sioux Falls SD. Wife Gertrude Van Putten 1922-2009 They had five children.

5. Andrew Schipper born 25 Jun 1925 Sioux Center IA died 3 Aug 2016 Hawarden IA Wife Joann Ardis Nygard 1926-2013, they had four children.

6. Janeva Schipper born 3 Aug 1932 Ireton IA died 20 Aug 2022 Sheldon IA buried Ireton IA. Husband Cornelius Coulander. They had four children.

7. Walter Schipper born 13 Sep 1935 died 25 Apr 2022 Ireton IA Wife Janice Vander Hamm. They had three children.

OBITUARY OF CORNELIUS SCHIPPER
Source: Hawarden Independent (5-9-1968)
Born: November 28, 1885
Died: May 1, 1968
SCHIPPER FUNERAL HELD IN IRETON
Funeral services were held last Saturday for Cornelius Schipper, Sr., 82, who was found dead at his home in Ireton last Thursday by his son and grandson, Delbert Schipper, Sr., and Delbert Schipper, Jr. He apparently died from a heart attack.
Reverend Gradus Aalberts of Winnebago, Nebraska, officiated at the services held in the First Reformed Church at Ireton. Vocal music was by Williard Huitink, Milly Van Oort, Jerrold De Boer, and Carol Reinders, with Mrs. Jake Kramer as organist.
Casket bearers were Peter Haverhals, Peter Lockhorst, John De Groot, Reuben De Groot, Don Ver Hoeven, and Casey De Groot. Burial was in Pleasant Hill Cemetery under the direction of the Sioux Center Cooperative Burial Association.
Mr. Schipper was born in Holland on November 28, 1885. He came to the United States at the age of 21and settled in the Sioux County vicinity. He married Jennie De Groot in December, 1914, at Sioux Center. She preceded him in death on August 17, 1939. On August 19, 1958, he was united in marriage with Alene L. Blair. He had been a Sioux County resident for 61 years.
Survivors include the widow, who is in Orange City Hospital; four sons: Delbert, Andrew and Walter of Ireton, and Cornelius, Jr., of Inwood; two daughters, Miss Pearl Schipper and Mrs. Cornelius (Jeneva) Coulander, both of Ireton; 18 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and three brothers, all living in The Netherland.

OBITUARY OF JENNIE SCHIPPER
Source: Sioux Center News (8-31-1939)
Born: May 12, 1893
Died: 1939
Mrs. Cornelius Schipper, 46, died at Doornink Hospital at Orange City, Thursday evening following an illness of eight weeks.
Mrs. Schipper, nee Jennie De Groot, was born in Sioux Center on May 12, 1893, but has resided in Ireton the past five years. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ruured De Groot. She was married on December 9, 1914 at Sioux Center to Mr. Cornelius Schipper and to this union seven children were born.
Prior to moving to Ireton she lived on a farm west of Sioux Center.
She is survived by her widower and children: Delbert, Pearl, Reuben, Cornie, Andrew, Janeva, and Walter James. She also leaves her parents at Sioux Center, three brothers, Dick of Ireton, John of Ireton, and Cornie of Sheldon; five sisters, Mrs. John Vander Burg of Sioux Center, Mrs. Peter Vander Klassen of Esterline, South Dakota, Mrs. Peter Balkema of Orange City, Mrs. Wilton Brower of Sanborn, and Mrs. Clarence Bjork of Alcester, South Dakota.
Funeral services were held Monday, August 21, 1939, at 1:30 P.M. from the residence and at 2:00 P.M. from the Methodist Church at Ireton. The Reverend Mr. Aalbers officiated. Bearers were Clarence Walraven, Gt. Van Wyhe, Hildebrant Den Ouden, Nick Vander Tuig, Alvin White, and George Ricklof. Burial was in the Ireton Cemetery.