Eggink, Henry 1877-1936

EGGINK, WIELENGA

Posted By: Paul Van Dyke--Volunteer
Date: 11/21/2016 at 23:29:04

Source: Alton Democrat (12-4-1936)

Born: February 23, 1877
Died: December 28, 1936

Henry Eggink, respected and highly esteemed Alton merchant, passed at his home in Alton, Thursday, December 28th, at 6:30 P.M. from heart trouble and complications which had confined him to bed for four weeks. He was 59 years and nine months of age.

Born in The Netherlands on February 23, 1877,he came with his parents to the United States when he was four years of age. The family settled at Alton and farmed in this vicinity and at Middleburg for some years. Leaving home as a young man he worked several years in a lumber yard at Sioux Center, after which he was employed 14 years as manager of the F.M. Slagie Company yard at Orange City. For three and one half years he was manager of The Farmers Elevator at Orange City, and 16 years ago in November, 1920, he established a general mercantile business in Alton in the former hotel business building near Northwestern. Nine years ago his store burned to the ground and he bought the former Scholten garage where he has since continued his business. His health had been failing for several years but he couragely carried on and at his business until a few weeks before his death.

He was married May 25th, 1905 to Miss Alice Weilenga at Orange City. Four of their children died in infancy. He is survived by his wife and three children: Coba, Peter and Marilyn all at home; by his aged mother, Mrs. A. Eggink of Orange City; and by three brothers and one sister, namely: Ralph Eggink of Hynes, California, Nick Eggink of Sioux City, Mrs. Hattie Peebles and James Eggink, both of Haynes, California.

Funeral services were held Monday at 1:00 o’clock at the home and at 1:45 at the First Christian Reformed Church of which he had long been a member. Services were conducted by the pastor, Reverend Brookema. Six nephews were pallbearers.

He was a man of soundest character and honesty and built his business on the “small profit” plan. Unassuming in manner, he was charitable, kind and generous, loyal to family and friends, and he will be greatly missed by the Alton community.

Among those here for the service were his brothers and sister, Ralph Eggink and Mrs. Peebles of Hynes, California, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Ter Hark, son Joe and daughter Anne of Sibley; his brother Nick Eggink, sons Albert and John of Sioux City, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Berghuis and daughter Lena, Andrew De Zeenw, B.K. Eggink, daughters Christine and Johanna, Mr. and Mrs. Alden Walraven, daughters Ellen and Carolyn, all of Sioux Center; and others too numerous to mention from neighboring towns.