Niemeyer, Gerrit, 1887-1956

NIEMEYER, DEVRIES

Posted By: Mary Lou Verburg Volunteer (email)
Date: 5/26/2016 at 20:33:22

Funeral Services For Gerrit Niemeyer To Be Held Today

Gerrit Niemeyer, son of Henry Niemeyer and Alice Post, was born in Elburg in the province of Gelderland, The Netherlands, on Feb. 23, 1887. He died at Canton, S. D. after an illness of nearly three weeks and hospitalization there. At the time of his death he was within two weeks of his 69 birthday.
Mr. Niemeyer came to America at the age of 21, leaving his parents in the Netherlands. He made his home on a farm near Rock Valley and spent his young manhood in the Doon and Rock Valley community. On Jan. 6, 1914 he was married to Johanna De Vries at Carmel. Upon their marriage the family moved to Inwood which was their home until 1953 when they moved to Rock Valley which is still the family home.
Five sons were born to them, one dying in infancy. Besides his widow he is survived by four sons; Henry, Oepke and Ell all of Inwood. The youngest son Bernard is in military service and presently stationed in Korea.
Gerrit Niemeyer was the last survivor of his own family of whom three others had also come to the United States. A brother Tony, now deceased, lived at Grand Rapids, Michigan; a brother William, also deceased, lived at Inwood; a sister, Mrs. Claus Vander Sluis died at Edgerton, Minnesota. Two other brothers and three sisters, died in The Netherlands
Mr. Niemeyer's entire life was devoted to farming until retirement to Inwood and later to Rock Valley. He had served 15 years as member of the Consistory, six years as a Deacon, and eight years as an Elder at Inwood Reformed church and one year as Elder at Fairview, S. D. Reformed church. At the time of his death he was a member of the First Reformed church of Rock Valley. Funeral services will be held at the Vander Ploeg Funeral Home, and at 1:30 at First Reformed church of Rock Valley. The services will be conducted by Rev. A. A. Dykstra, assisted by Rev. Hubert Muilenburg from Orange City, and former pastor to the family at Inwood.

Source: 2/16/1956