Pals, Katherine (Mrs. Gerrit) 1912-1937

PALS, MOUW

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-volunteer
Date: 9/18/2013 at 23:29:38

Source: Sioux Center News(3-4-1937)
Source: Sioux County Capital(3-4-1937

The funeral for Mrs. Pals and son, Harold was held Tuesday from the American Reformed Church with Rev. Le Roy Nattress officiating assisted by Rev. Kuyper of the Proyestant Reformed Church. Services were held at 2 P.M. and interment was made in the Orange City Cemetery.

Mrs. Pals, born Katherine Mouw, was 25 years old and the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mouw of Maurice. Saturday, the Gerrit family of four moved into their newly rented home just west of the Orange City Cemetery and next place west of Tony Huizinga. They moved in so quietly that many of the neighbors did not know the house was occupied until a rapidly spreading fire early Monday morning bought tragedy and sadness to the entire community.

Monday morning around 7:30, Gerrit Pals was in the yard back of the house looking for wire with which to tie up the pipes of the cook stove which had been placed in the kitchen. The family was not yet settled in their new home. The gasoline stove which had been used in their former house was still in the back yard waiting to be put in the summer kitchen where it would be using for washing. What happened at this time is not clear to anyone but it is thought that Mrs. Pals mistook the gasoline can for the kerosene container and poured gas on the already lighted cook stove. The smoke brought Gerrit into the house at once but rapidly spreading flames gave little time for thought. The house filled with smoke and fire immediately, Gerrit caught his wife but in trying to get out they both stumbled and fell and Mrs. Pals could not be found again.

While Pals was in the house, Tony Huizinga, living next door east, running from his chores, Gerrit staggered by telling him to get the “boy on the couch” and help find Mrs. Pals. The smoke was so thick at this time that Tony could but feel all over and around the couch but without success. He could not see. It was later they found that 5 year old Harold had left the couch, to find sanctuary under the covers on his bed. The property, dry as timber, caught fire rapidly. Little could be done to put out the flames or make entry to the premises. No one knew exactly where Mrs. Pals and Harold were inside the building and although Peter De Jong and Steve Huizinga, knocked in a bedroom window, they could not get into the place because of the belching flames. While rescueing his baby, Gerrit Pals was badly burned. He was rushed to the Doornink Hospital. His face, neck and right arm are burned severely. The baby was not injured and was taken to the C. Pals home after the catastrophe. Gerrit has an even chance of recovery. Harold was her second child, the first dying in infancy, and would have been six years old soon.

Mrs. Pals is survived by her husband and little one year old daughter Carol Elaine, her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Mouw of Maurice, two sisters, Jessie and Pearl Mouw and one brother, Cornie Mouw.