Gerritson, Dena (Mrs. Jake), abt. 1888-1921

GERRITSON, POPMA, GARRITSEN

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 12/24/2016 at 20:46:59

From the Rock Valley Bee, October 28, 1921:

FATAL ACCIDENT NEAR IRETON

W. H. Gerritson received a phone message Monday forenoon advising him of the death of his sister-in-law Mrs. Jake Gerritson who met with a fatal accident at about 10:30 o'clock Monday forenoon. She was helping her husband husk corn on their farm about five miles north of Ireton. Mrs. Gerritson was working beside her husband, Mr. Gerritson being further away. One of the children came running through the corn field to get on the wagon, as they had their load and were ready to go home. This frightened the team and they started to run. Mrs. Gerritson grabbed for the lines but got hold of only one of them, which turned the horses suddenly toward her, the wagon with the heavy load passing over her head and chest, injuring her so badly that she died about twenty minutes later.

Mrs. Gerritson would have been thirty-four years old within a few days. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Popma of Sioux Center and had lived in Sioux County nearly all her life. Besides her husband and aged parents she leaves three children aged 15, 12 and 6 years, and seven sisters and three brothers. She was a woman who was highly respected by all who knew her and her untimely death is very much regretted in the neighborhood where she lived.

Funeral services were held at Ireton Wednesday afternoon. It is said to have been one of the most largely attended funerals held there in recent years.

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From the Alton Democrat, October 29, 1921, Maurice news:

TRAGIC DEATH MRS. GERRITSON

Mr. and Mrs. Frank Popma received the sad news of the tragic death of their daughter, Mrs. Gerritson near Ireton Monday. Mrs. Gerritson was helping her husband pick corn when the team became frightened and ran away. The terrified animals headed toward the unfortunate woman and the wagon passed over her body so that the ribs punctured her lungs, thus causing her death. Her husband picked her up but she died before he reached the house. The deceased was the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Popma of Maurice. She is survived by a large number of brothers and sisters, by her husband and four children. Funeral services were conducted Wednesday afternoon from the Reformed church at Ireton.

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The 1920 U.S. census for Eagle Township, Sioux County, has Jake Garritsen, age 34, born in Iowa of Dutch parents, a farmer; wife Dena (32), and children Nellie (12), Frank (12), and Margaret (4-7/12).