VandenBrink, Gerrit 1831-1910

VANDENBRINK, VERHOEF, VANDEPOEL

Posted By: Wilma J. Vande Berg - volunteer (email)
Date: 4/1/2017 at 10:56:05

Boyden Reporter of Dec 22, 1910

Was born June 29,1831 at Ermelo, Netherlands and died at Boyden, Iowa, December 2, 1910, aged 79yrs. 5 months and 3 days. The funeral services were held in the American church, December 7th. conducted by Rev. A. W. DeJong of Hull and the burial was at the Boyden cemetery where A. A. Kuyper spoke a few words to the family and friends, concluding the ceremonies.

Garret (or Gerrit) Vanden Brink was married in 1858 to Miss Dirkje Verhoef, and to this union 8 chilren were born, two of whom died in Netherlands in infancy, the remainder are all living either in Sioux or O'Brien counties and were all present at the funeral services.

When he lived in the old country he was a farmer, and followed the same occupation here near Hospers and Boyden for 15 years, when he left the farm and moved to Boyden where he resided as a retired farmer for ten years, proving a worthy and loyal citizen. In the summer of 1908 he and his good wife celebrated their golden wedding with their family and friends, and during all these many years of wedded life they have bravely, and shoulder to shoulder, met the joys and sorrows of life together.

From early life he was an intensely religious man and served his Master faithfully and well and was always ready to give his experiences in his faith and do all in his power to lead others to God. In the old country he was a trustee of the Presbyterian church and at Hospers he was an elder of the church for fourteen years and after he moved to Boyden was an elder of our church for a number of years, ;when he resigned owing to advancing age with its infirmities.

For his wife, his children and grandchildren and for friends or enemies he had only the kindest of words and was always ready to extend a helping hand id all and to ask the blessing of his God upon them and their works. He raised his family under strict religious training, always striving to lead them in the path followed by his master, and on his deathbed, passed peacefully away. May we meet him in the Great Beyond is the wish of his wife and children.

Note: The marriage record found on www.wiewaswie.nl - Gerrit Van den Brink 26 yrs of age married Dirkje Verhoef 24 on 9 Sep 1858 at Ermelo, Gelderland, Netherlands , her parents were Art VerHoef and Aaltje Hamer, his parents were Evert Van den Brink and Gijsbertje Vande Poel.