Leusink, Gerrit John, 1907-1922

LEUSINK

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/23/2017 at 21:27:56

From the Sioux County Index (Hull), July 21, 1922

Killed in Runaway.

One of the saddest and most shocking accidents happened last week Saturday morning, near Hull, when the young life of Gerrit John Leusink, 15 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. H. D. Leusink, of east of Hull, was crushed out of him. Through some apparently unknown cause the team which he was driving became frightened and upset the wagon and pinned Gerrit John beneath a heavy tank, filled with buttermilk, practically crushing his whole skull. Though all human efforts were put forth to revive him, and even an operation on the skull was performed at the hospital, all were in vain, he did not regain consciousness and died at 8:30 p.m.

The funeral was held Monday afternoon from the First Reformed Church at Hull, Rev. J. H. Kregel officiating. It was the largest funeral ever held in our town, nearly 1300 persons attending the ceremony. On every face you could read the heartfelt sympathy which was felt for the bereaved parents, who but two months ago lost another boy, very suddenly, and now were called upon to give up their last and only boy.

Gerrit John was a promising young lad esteemed by his friends; a member of the Mr. Vermeer's Sunday school class. Six members of his Sunday school class acted as pall bearers. His pastor very touchingly made some appropriate remarks upon Gerrit John's request which he made in the Sunday School, the Sunday before he passed away, when he asked that the hymn "Softly and Tenderly Jesus is Calling, Come Home, Come Home," might be sung as a closing hymn. Little did he think that before another week should pass by, he should have answered that call. His classmates also sang that hymn at the funeral.

At the funeral the pastor spoke in both languages on "Cast all thy burdens upon the Lord, for he careth for you," and "Eternal Life through Jesus Christ."

He is survived by his father and mother and 4 sisters, Grace, Dora, Henrietta and Glazina, to mourn his departure.

The deceased was a young man of unusually fine character and his acquaintances without exception speak of him as a model young man. While his untimely death is the cause of much regret and the entire community feels the loss deeply, it will be a source of much comfort to the bereaved relatives to know that he lived an untarnished life and that his memory will be held in the highest reverence. The Index joins in extending sincere sympathy to the bereaved ones.

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His death was covered more briefly in other area newspapers.

The Sioux County Cemetery Index has Leusink, Gerrit John, b. 25 May 1907, d. 15 Jul 1922, son of HD & L., Hope Cem Hull IA.