VanSteenwyk, Elmer A. (Mose) - 1905-1962

VANSTEENWYK, THOMPSON

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/28/2012 at 13:22:36

Sioux Center News, March 22, 1962

Funeral services were held at Ambler, Penn., Wednesday for E. A. (Mose) Van Steenwyk, 56, former Sioux Center resident and a brother of Jake & Cedric Van Steenwyk of this city, who died Sunday at his Pennsylvania home after he had been badly burned in a fire that started while he was syphoning gas from a car to a small tractor he used about his suburban home.

Cedric Van Steenwyk and sister, Mrs. David (Frances) Schuetz of Denison, IA, left from Sioux City by plane Monday evening to fly to Pennsylvania for the funeral. They had expected to return home Friday or Saturday.

Elmer Arnold Van Steenwyk, son of the late Mr. & Mrs. W. A. Van Steenwyk, long time residents of Sioux Center, was born in Sioux Center, May 19, 1905, and resided in this community until his graduation from high school. He later graduated from the University of Minnesota and was married to Marian Ione Thompson of Duluth, whom he had met at the University.

Survivors include his wife, a son, John, of New York City, a daughter, Linda, of Philadelphia; five brothers, Bernard of San Bernadino, CA; Jake of Sioux Center, Marion of San Marino, CA; Cedric of Sioux Center, and Arnold of Arcadia, CA; one sister, Mrs. David (Frances) Schuetz of Denison, IA.

Mr. Van Steenwyk had gained national prominence as the founder of Blue Cross, hospital insurance plan, and at the time of his passing held the position of executive vice president. He had lived in Philadelphia and suburbs since 1938.

He organized Blue Cross at St. Paul, MN, in July of 1933, and was at that time a 29 years old ex-teacher from Iowa, with a total capital of $837. By the end of 1933 he had 3000 subscribers in St. Paul. By the end of his first year in Philadelphia, Van Steenwyk, saw the subscriber list grow to 160,000.