Rouwenhorst, Klaas, 1848-1921

ROUWENHORST, DEGOOYER

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 11/21/2016 at 21:29:57

From the Sioux County Index, April 1, 1921:

Klaas Rouwenhorst, one of the pioneers of Sioux County, and for many years a resident of Boyden, passed away at his home there at 5:30 o'clock A.M., Tuesday. Deceased had reached the age of 72 years, and had always enjoyed the best of health until just a few months ago when he began to fail. Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon. He leaves a wife and eleven children.

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From the Boyden Reporter, April 7, 1921:

Klaas Rouwenhorst

Klaas Rouwenhorst was born at Appledoorn, Gelderland, Netherlands, on September 5th, 1848, and Tuesday March twenty-ninth at 5:30 A.M. he passed away, at the age of 72 years, 6 months, and twenty-four days.

He came to America in 1872, therefore next year he would have been here a half-century. He purchased a homestead six miles south of Orange City and lived there with his parents for six years. Then on February twentieth, 1878, he was united in marriage to Nellie De Gooyer, with whom he was privileged to live for over 43 years. They homesteaded two miles south of Orange City for over eleven years, moving then to a farm near Boyden where they resided for sixteen years, and then they moved to Boyden where they also lived for sixteen years.

They were blessed with twelve children, of whom eleven are living, one passing away in infancy: five daughters and six sons, the latter appropriately acted as pall-bearers of their beloved father; and also nineteen grandchildren. Those left to mourn his death are Mrs. K. Rouwenhorst, and the children as follows: Mrs. Lena Heemstra of Santa Ana, Calif., John, Otto, Albert, and Chris. Rouwenhorst, who live at Monroe, S.D., Will Rouwenhorst of Hospers, Ia., Mrs. Christine Beldt of Matlock, Ia., Mrs. Marie Hoeven of Sheldon, Mrs. Nettie Verrips, Mrs. Gertrude Van den Brink and Nic Rouwenhorst of Boyden. All children, with the exception of Mrs. Heemstra were present at the funeral.

The funeral services were held last Thursday at 1:30 o/clock in the home, and at two o'clock in the First Reformed church of Boyden, and interment was made in the Boyden cemetery. He died just two days after Easter Morn, and had the hope that he had obtained the Resurrection and the Life, in Christ Jesus his savior.