VanMiddendorp, Willempje (Mrs. Cornelius), 1865-1925

VANMIDDENDORP

Posted By: Lydia Lucas - Volunteer (email)
Date: 6/13/2021 at 20:33:35

From the Rock Valley Bee, May 22, 1925:

Mrs. Cornelius Van Midendorp

Mrs. Cornelius Van Midendorp, of Rock Valley, died last Saturday at the hospital in Cherokee, where she had been taken a few days earlier for treatment. The remains were brought back to Rock Valley Monday, and the funeral services were held at the home Monday afternoon, conducted by Rev. H. Colenbrander, of the First Reformed church of Rock Valley.

The subject of this sketch was born in Holland, October 23, 1865, and she had attained [the age] of 59 years, 6 months and 13 days. The greater part of her life was spent in her native land, where she grew to womanhood and was married to Cornelius Van Midendorp. She came with her husband to this country five years ago and since that time they have lived in this vicinity.

Mrs. Van Midendorp leaves her husband, Cornelius Van Middendorp, and five children: Evert, living in Holland; Marinus, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Jake, of Larchwood, Iowa; Mrs. Alma Donkerveer, who lives in Ontario, Canada; and Gerrit, of Rock Valley, who will mourn their loss.

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From the Alton Democrat, May 29, 1925, Rock Valley news:

Mrs. Cornelius Van Middendorp was born in Holland, Oct. 23, 1865, having attained the age of 59 years, 6 months and 13 days where she spent the greater part of her womanhood and was here united in marriage to Cornelius Van Middendorp. Five years ago the Middendorp family moved to this vicinity directly from Holland and have ever since resided in this community. Mrs. Van Middendorp was taken to Cherokee to receive treatment at the state hospital but being beyond all medical aid she succumbed and was brought home Monday for burial.

Funeral services were held at the home on Tuesday afternoon conducted by Rev. H. Colenbrander of the local First Ref. church, burial taking place in the Valley View cemetery. She leaves to mourn her husband, one daughter, Mrs. Alma Donkeveer of Ontario, Can., and four sons, Evert of Holland, Marinus of Sioux Falls, Jake of Larchwood and Gerrit at Rock Valley.

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Her death certificate has Willempje Van Middendorp; born Oct. 23, 1865; married, husband’s name and parents’ names unknown to the registrar; died May 16, 1925 at the Cherokee State Hospital, where she had been for 17 days; cause: exhaustion; contributory cause: psychosis with cerebral arteriosclerosis.

(Some of the family apparently dropped the “Van” from their surname. Her sons Jake and Marinus both appear in these obituaries and in the Sioux County Cemetery Index as simply “Middendorp.” Neither she nor her husband are in the Cemetery Index.)