Zwaan, Ralph 1898-1983

ZWAAN, LEMS

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 9/16/2013 at 11:17:40

Source: Rock Valley Bee (11-23-1983)

Ralph Zwaan, 85, of Rock Valley died Saturday in a nursing home at Forest City.
Services were at 1:30 P.M. Tuesday in the Calvin Christian Reformed Church in Rock Valley. The Rev. Robert Timmer officiated. Burial was in Valley View Cemetery. Visitation was from 7:30 to 8:30 P.M. in the Porter Funeral Home.

Mr. Zwaan was born June 2, 1898, in Andijk, The Netherlands. He came to the united States at the age of 18 and worked for farmers in the Steen, Minnesota area. He married Marie Lems February 12, 1926, in Doon. They farmed for three years before starting an implement business, following by 15 years in a general merchandise store in the Doon area. They moved to Rock Valley in 1945 where they purchased a variety store, later Mr. Zwaan became a realtor insurance man.

He had been a resident of the Valley Manor Nursing Home in Rock Valley from 1978 until moving to a Forest City nursing home in 1980.

Survivors include his wife; two daughters, Mrs. Grace Kooiman, and Mrs. Fred (Henrietta) Rizzo, both of Forest City; two brothers, Peter of Doon, and Nick of Luverne, Minnesota; four sisters, Mrs. Gert Van Ketel and Mrs. John (Grace) Bouma, both of Doon, Mrs. Lou (Tillie) Holtrop of Hawarden and Mrs. Bill (Hilda) Rozeboom of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.