Siemonsma, Agnes (Mrs. P. J. or J. P.), 1855-1920

SIEMONSMA, SIMONSMA

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/3/2016 at 08:42:56

From the Rock Valley Bee, July 23, 1920:

DEATH OF MRS. SIMONSMA

Mrs. Agnes Simonsma died at the home of her son, W. J. Simonsma, in Rock Valley Tuesday afternoon [July 20] at 5:00 o'clock. She had been sick for he past year and a half, and was confined to her bed for the past three months.

The subject of this sketch was born at Arum, Holland, March 3, 1855, and at the time of her death was sixty-five years, four months and seventeen days old. The greater part of her life was spent in her native land where she received her education and grew to woman-hood. She was united in marriage to P. J. Siemonsma in 1875. To this union seven children were born, four of whom are living. They are Simon, Pete, Will, and Mrs. John Sas, Jr., all living in Rock Valley and vicinity.

The family came to this country twenty-seven years ago and since that time deceased had lived in Rock Valley, She was a woman who was kind to her family, obliging to her neighbors and who was highly respected by all who knew her.

Funeral services were held from the First Reformed Church Thursday afternoon, the services being in charge of Rev. Colenbrander, and the remains were taken to Valley View Cemetery for burial.

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All of the other family surnames in the online Sioux County Cemetery Index are spelled Siemonsma, and hers undoubtedly was, also. She does not appear to be included in the index, although the entry "Siemonsma, Anna, b. 1853 d. 1920, Valley View Cem Rock Valley IA" may be her. She appears to have been the widow, not of P. J. Simonsma, but of John P. Siemonsma (even though he was considerably older than her). His obituary (posted separately) shows him dying on October 31, 1916, leaving his widow and the same four children; it does not give his wife's name.