Douma, Fred 1888-1954

DOUMA, HOOGTERP

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 7/29/2013 at 13:52:34

From the Sioux Center News, February 25, 1954:

Alton Man, Missing Nine Days, Found Dead Near Carnes

An Alton man, Fred Douma, 65, was found dead Friday afternoon along side an old farm building three miles southeast of Carnes, nine days after he had been missed.

Douma left home Thursday morning, Feb. 11, to tear down an old house on an unoccupied farm near Carnes. According to Sheriff Harry Dykstra who was at the scene when the body was found, the man apparently had been up on the roof and had fallen off. The body was lying face down on a pile of bricks and a ladder was leaning against the house on the other side.

Douma lived with his wife in Alton but the couple was reported to be alienated for many years. Mrs. Douma did not grow concerned about her husband until almost a week had passed. The search for him was made after it was learned that he wasn't visiting a son living in Texas, as had been supposed.

Funeral services were held in Alton Monday. Survivors in addition to the widow, include two daughters and a son.

From the Alton Democrat, February 25, 1954:

Fred Douma Killed In Fall From Building

Funeral services for Fred Douma, who was killed in an accidental fall, were held Mon day at lib home. He was pulling down the chimney on an empty house which he had bought on the J. Van't Holl place southeast of Alton, and fell from the roof, the fall resulting in his instantaneous death.

Fred Douma was born in the Netherlands May 24, 1888, and was 65 years, 8 months and 18 days old at the time of his passing. He came to the United States with his parents when a small child and lived in the Alton community all his life. For some years he had charge of the ice harvest here, until mechanical refrigerators put an end to that business. He was married to Kate Hoogterp Feb. 19, 1914.

Survivors are the widow, two daughters: Myrtle (Mrs. Art Hofmeyer) of Orange City and Lois (Mrs. Dick Barnes) of Alton; one son Cyril, a major in the U.S. Air Force; five grandchildren; two brothers, Jake of Alton and Harry of Sacramento, Calif., and two sisters: Hattie (Mrs. Andrew Pierson) of Wakefield, Nebr. and Sue (Mrs. Wm. Mulder) of De Smet, So. Dak.

The family have the sympathy of all in the tragic passing of husband and father. Mr. Douma was known and respected for his honesty, sincerity, industry, and many other good qualities.

Rev. Sandee of the local First Reformed church and Rev. F Van Engelenhoven of Orange City had charge of the services Monday and J. W. Allen was in charge of funeral arrangements. Mrs. Don Freriks and Mrs. Harvey Hofmeyer, accompanied by Mrs. John Fennema, sang a duet "Blessed Assurance."

Major Cyril Douma came from Laredo, Texas for the services. He is now en route to Greenland, where he will be stationed for a year. Other relatives here from a distance were Mrs. Andrew Pierson of Wakefield and members of her family, including Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Utech, Mr. and Mrs. Per Pierson; also Mrs. Douma's two brothers: Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hoogterp of Rapid City and B. H. Hoogterp of Sturges, S.D.; Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Romberg of Paramount, Calif., and many relatives and friends from neighboring towns.

The services were at 1:30 with interment following In Nassau township cemetery.