Nieuwenhuis, G. Nelson 1908-2011

NIEUWENHUIS, TESTROETE, REIMANN

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/9/2011 at 04:26:16

G. Nelson Nieuwenhuis
February 19, 1908 - November 6, 2011

Mr. Nelson Nieuwenhuis, age 103, of Hospers, passed away on Sunday, November 6, 2011, at the Heritage House Nursing Home in Orange City.
There will be a funeral service on Thursday, November 10, at 10:30am, at the First Reformed Church in Hospers. The Rev. Milton Sikkema will officiate. Interment will follow at the Hospers Cemetery near Hospers. Visitation will be after 4:00pm on Wednesday, with the family present from 5:30pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral home in Orange City.
Gerrit Nelson was born on February 19, 1908, in his parent’s home, the only son of Anna Elizabeth (Te Stroete) and Albert Nieuwenhuis. He was raised and lived in Hospers most of his life. He attended the Hospers Public School, graduating in 1925.
At the age of 15, he rented a garden space and saved enough money to purchase the first factory made one tube radio and head phone receiver sold in Hospers through the Raak Telephone Company, at a cost of $40. During his high school and college years, he spent many hours working with his father's carpentry crew, helping build many of the area barns, farm buildings, and houses. He also earned money for college working for his uncle, Jerry Raak, in the telephone company, as an all night operator for 10 cents an hour. He attended the Sheldon Junior College and obtained his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the Central College in Pella in 1932.
On May 4, 1935, he married Isabelle Victoria Reimann in Paullina. Except for five years in Ashton, they made their home in Hospers. Nelson was a teacher in the Hospers and Ashton public schools for eleven years. In September of 1948, he began as instructor of history and government at the Northwestern Junior College and Academy in Orange City. He remained at Northwestern for a period of thirty years, teaching European History, Government, Geography, Western Civilization, and Political Science, during which time the school developed into a four year liberal arts college. Following retirement in 1974, he served for four years as a part-time curator and archivist for the Dutch Heritage Collection at the college.
Nelson received his Master of Arts Degree from the University of South Dakota. He subsequently spent many summers of graduate work in history at various universities, including the Universities of Wyoming, South Dakota, and Iowa, as well as the University of Northern Iowa and the Garrett Biblical Institute.
He is the author of Siouxland: A History of Sioux County, Iowa, published in 1983 and reprinted in 2007 by the Greater Sioux County Genealogical Society; The History of Hospers, Iowa, published in 1991; A History of Dutch Settlement in South Dakota to 1900 (Masters’ Thesis, 1948); and Henry Hospers - The Peoples Friend, privately printed, Iowa City, 1978. He helped with "A Century of Sundays: 1886-1986", a history of the First Reformed Church of Hospers. Other short histories include "Zwemer HaIl: A Landmark at Northwestern College, Fall 1975, Annals of Iowa."; "A Historical Sketch of Northwestern College, 1981"; "The Koolbeck Family, 1998"; and "Iowa's Sioux County Courthouse", last reprinted 2009.
Mr. Nieuwenhuis was active in the affairs of the Gideon's for many years, as well as the First Reformed Church of Hospers, serving as adult Sunday school teacher, deacon, and elder. He was past president of both the Hospers-Newkirk Historical Society and the Sioux County Historical Society. He also served a term as Director on the Sioux County Board of Education, during the reorganization years. He helped several local institutions in getting their buildings registered in the National Register of Historical Places, including Zwemer Hall and the Sioux County Courthouse.
In 1973, he received from CROP a commendation for outstanding leadership and dedicated service since 1959. In 1976, he was named one of the Directors of The Sioux County Bicentennial Commission and in 1984 was awarded the "Certificate of Merit for Publications," by the Iowa State Historical Society, for outstanding achievement in the field of state and local history. He was honored by Governor Terry E. Bransted in 1986, with the "Governor's Volunteer Award."
The love of his life, Isabelle, passed away on June 28, 2003, after 68 years of marriage. Also preceding him in death were a host of friends, neighbors, and relatives, including a daughter-in-law, Ellen Nieuwenhuis; two brothers-in law, Leo and Walter "Dutch" Reiman; and three sisters-in-law, Gladys Reimann, May Reimann, and Augusta Marie Terry.
Blessed by his love, long life, and presence in their lives are his survivors, which include his two sons and their wives,. David and Vicki Nieuwenhuis, of Lodi, California;, and Norman and Kerry Nieuwenhuis, of Orange City; five grandsons and their families, Todd David Nieuwenhuis of Chino,California; David Gene Nieuwenhuis, Jr.,and his wife, Heidi, of Newnan, Georgia, and their children, Darren, Gerrit, Jerrod, and Harrison; Daniel Gerrit Nieuwenhuis, and his wife, Wendy, of Vallejo, California, and their children, Adam, Zachery, and Audrey; Erik Nelson Nieuwenhuis, and his wife, Jenilyn,of Sioux City, and their children, Abigail and Maelynne; and Seth Robert Nieuwenhuis, and his wife, Jill, of Omaha, Nebraska, and their children, Kaylee and Karly.
Source: Oolman Funeral Home, Orange City, IA., obit.