Klay, Gerrit 1868-1939

KLAY, WASSENAAR

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke-Volunteer
Date: 2/23/2015 at 21:06:19

Source: Hawarden Independent (2-16-1939)

Birth: September 5, 1868
Death: February 11, 1939

DEATH CLAIMS GERRIT KLAY PASSED AWAY AT ORANGE CITY HOME SATURDAY NIGHT.

Gerrit Klay was 71 Years Old and Long Prominent as a Lawyer and Former Member of the Iowa Legislature. He was a prominent Orange City attorney, former member of the Iowa legislature and one of Sioux county's most widely known citizens, passed away at his home in Orange City at 8:30 Saturday evening as the result of a blod clot on the brain.

Mr. Klay first became ill last Thursday evening. He had been at his law office throughout the day and was apparently in the best of health. When he drove home in the late afternoon he had difficulty in getting his car into the garage due to the heavy fall of snow that day and then decided to shovel the snow from his walks. During the evening he became quite ill, presumably due to over-exertion, and during the night lapsed into unconsciousness. from which he never recovered.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 Tuesday afternoon in the American Reformed church at Orange City and interment was made in the Orange City cemetery.

Gerrit Klay was born in The Netherlands September 5, 1868, so was past 71 years of age. He came to the United States at the age of 15, settling at Rock Valley, where in 1888 he was united in mariage with Effie Wassenaar, who survives him. While farming near Rock Valley he took up the study of law at home and in 1898 was admitted to the bar. He spent three years in the office of Attorney P. D. Van Oosterhout at Orange City before opening his own office. He was highly successful in the practice of law and became one of the best known attorneys in Sioux county and northwest Iowa. For a considerable number of years past his son, T. E. Klay, has been associated with him in his law practice.

Mr. Klay was elected in 1908 to represent Sioux county in the state legislature and was re-elected in 1910 and again in 1912, after which he voluntarily retired. During the World War he took a prominent part in the work of the County Council of Defense and was active in Liberty Loan drives and other service Of a patriotic character. He served as mayor of Orange City for several terms and was long active in the affairs of the republican party in county, district and state. He was a man of fearless convictions and in his legal practice was diligent, resourceful and hard-hitting, but always eminently fair.

He was active in numerous civic and business enterprises in Orange City over a long period of years and was one of that community's most valued citizens.

In 1920 Mr. Klay was appointed vice-consul by the Dutch government and continued to serve in that capacity and in 1935 he was knighted by the House of Orange-Nassau for services rendered to his countrymen.

Besides the widow, Mr. Klay is survived by five children, Mrs. Paul Smith of Sioux Falls; Teunis E. Klay and Mrs. Harold De Jong of Orange City; John L. Klay of Hawarden, and Mrs. Howard Fickey of LeMars.