DeBruin, John 1829-1907

DEBRUIN, VANGENDERSON

Posted By: Lydia Lucas-Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/17/2011 at 11:00:37

PIONEER GONE

John De Bruin senior dropped dead in Hospers Tuesday morning [January 8] at ten-thirty of apoplexy. He had been up town about half an hour and had just made arrangements to get a team to go to the funeral of his son-in-law Arie Bomgaars who died the Sunday night previously at Middleburg. Mr. De Bruin had met several friends and joked with them and was just going by the restaurant when he was called in by a friend. A few words were spoken and he fell to the floor. He breathed for about fifteen minutes but the efforts of his two sons and a physician who were called were unavailing to prolong his life or restore consciousness sufficiently for him to speak.

Deceased was--despite his seventy-seven years--a hale hearty man and had complained only in the past two weeks. A week ago Sunday while en route to church he was stricken with a pain in the region of the heart and it took some time to get him over it. Since then he had been around as usual and the suddon summons came as a great shock to his family and friends. He and his loving wife celebrated their golden wedding on October tenth and today her grief is pitiful to behold.

Deceased was born in the Netherlands on October ninth 1829 and came to America in 1853. He settled at Pella and was there married in 1856 to the wife who survives him. They traveled by boat from New York to San Francisco in the early sixties and came back to Pella overland. In 1883 they came to Sioux county and settled near Hospers where he took land which he still owned at the time of his death. Besides the sorrowing companion of fifty years deceased leaves five children. They are John and Kryn and Will and Mesdames John Nieuwenhuis of Hospers and Arie Bomgaars of Middleburg.

The funeral services were held on Friday at one o'clock from the house and at one-thirty from the Dutch Reformed church--Rev. Riepma officiating. Because of his genial good nature and kindheartedness deceased was a favorite of young and old. He had a good word and a smile for everybody. It was only fitting therefore that all the business places in town were closed and that the funeral was one of the largest seen in Hospers.

Source: Alton Democrat, January 12, 1907.
The obituary includes a photograph.
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NOTE:
The Sioux County Cemetery Index gives his name as Jan Sr. The obituary of their son John (Sioux Center News, May 27, 1943) gives his parents' names as Jan De Bruin and Maria (Van Genderson) De Bruin.
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Alton Democrat issue of 13 April 1912, Hospers column:

This week the remains of John De Bruin Sr., who died about five years ago, were taken up and removed to the new cemetery and laid to rest in the De Bruin family lot. Undertaker Reinders had charge of the work.