Miedema, John 1889-1936

MIEDEMA, BLEYENBERG, VANDYKE

Posted By: Janet Brown - volunteer (email)
Date: 8/11/2013 at 13:46:32

From the Thursday, April 2, 1936 Hawarden Independent:

John Miedema Died Monday

John Miedema, who resided the past year on the Zimmerman place, half a mile south of Ireton, passed away Monday following a brief illness. A week ago Sunday he was in his usual place in his church although he complained of not feeling very good. Two days later he was removed to a hospital at Hull where he grew steadily worse from pneumonia and passed away about 11 o'clock Monday morning. Not only was the shock great to his family to have the husband and father and the bread Winner in the very prime of life taken from their midst but the whole community is saddened and especially will he be missed in his church where for years he was looked to as a Christian leader. He was a man of integrity, honest in all his dealings and true to his family who were ever uppermost in his mind.

John Miedema was born in Friesland, Netherlands, Aug. 8, 1889. He came to this country in 1912, spending the first two years in Wisconsin. He came to Iowa in 1914 and located near Ireton and ever since has lived in this community. In 1915 he was united in marriage with Jennie Bleyenberg and to this union were born six children, Henry, Ida, Freda, Henrietta, Theresa and Dorothy Jeanette, the latter being only five weeks old. Besides his family he is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Miedema of Rock Valley, two sisters and one brother, also of Rock Valley, and one brother, who still resides in the Netherlands. He farmed the Cleveringa place for many years and later the Popma place, moving to the present place a year ago. He served as an elder in the Christian Reformed church for many years and was holding the responsible position of church secretary when death called him.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 this afternoon from the Christian Reformed church. The members of the church consistory will act as pall bearers. Rev. Van Dyke will be in charge of the services and interment will be made at Sioux Center. The widow and children, the oldest being 16 years, have the sympathy of the entire community in their great loss and may He who is the father of us all and promised never to forsake us, be their great comfort and stay.

Poster's note: According to her obituary on this site, John's mother was the former Frieda Van Dyke (Mrs. Charles Miedema).