Bloemendaal, Johanna (Mrs. Everett) 1852-1931

BLOEMENDAAL, VANEK

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke --Volunteer
Date: 6/15/2016 at 09:48:17

Source: Alton Democrat (3-6-1931)

Birth: August, 1852
Death: February 27, 1931

Another of the early pioneers of the county, one of those hardy souls who came here in the early seventies and stayed throughout the grasshopper scourges, the winter blizzards that swept the prairies, the prairie fires, years when there was little to eat for man or beast and such fuel as there was could only be obtained by hauling such wood as could be obtained from along the river and creeks, corn cob, even straw, - anything that would burn - to keep the freezing cold out of the shack - is gone. Mrs. E.J.G. Bloemendaal died at an the Orange City Hospital last Thursday following an operation. Peritonitis set in and after five days the end came.

Johanna Van Ek was born in the Netherlands August 1852, coming to the United State at the age of 20. She was married to Mr. E.J.G. Bloemendaal at Holland, Michigan on July 23, 1872, and the same year they set out for the west to create their own home in a new country.

They took up a homestead in 1872 three miles north of Alton, and here twelve children were born, one dying in infancy. As an opportunity came they acquired more and more land and upon the death of Mr. Bloemendaal some years ago each one of the surviving eleven children was the owner of a good Sioux County farm, all of them being located within a few miles of the old homestead.

The children who mourn the loss of their mother are John and Henry of Alton; Joe, Gerrit and Ralph of Orange City; William of Hospers; James of Alton; Mrs. William Scholten of Orange City; Mrs. William Van Surksum and Mrs. John Vander Wilt of Hospers, and Mrs. William Van Steenwyk of Alton.

In addition she is survived by 47 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren. Two sisters and one brother also survive the Sioux County pioneer, as follows:

Mrs. Ben Huizenga of Holland, Michigan, Herman Ten Cate of Edgerton, Minnesota, and Mrs. Dick Hiemstra, also of Edgerton.

The funeral services at the First Christ Reformed Church in Orange City Monday afternoon were attended by a vast concourse of people. Short services were held first at the William Scholten home. Dr. R. Bronkema, pastor of the Church, and Reverend G.W. Hylkema, pastor of the Second Christian Reformed Church, conducted the services. Burial was at the Orange City Cemetery.